European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg Wednesday (April 29) over energy independence due to the Iran crisis.

U.S. President Donald Trump has instructed aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported late on Tuesday (April 28), citing U.S. officials.

Countries heavily reliant on oil and gas face steeper price rises, adding to inflationary pressure and increasing the chance of a global recession - a familiar worry for Europeans who weathered the energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The European Parliament had been debating its strategy in response to the Middle East crisis.

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EU's Von der Leyen urges energy independence amid Iran crisis

VIDEO SHOWS: PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION URSULA VON DER LEYEN GIVING A SPEECH IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ON THE ONGOING ENERGY CRISIS

RESENDING COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: STRASBOURG, FRANCE (APRIL 29, 2026) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access all)

1. EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, WALKING INTO EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

2. VON DER LEYEN SHAKING HANDS WITH MEMBERS OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

3. VON DER LEYEN WALKING UP TO PODIUM

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"The consequences of this conflict may echo for months or even years to come. And this is why energy was on the top of the informal EUCOS (European Council) agenda. This is the second energy crisis within four years. And the lesson should be very clear. Our over-dependency on imported fossil fuels makes us vulnerable."

5. VON DER LEYEN SPEAKING

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"So the way forward is obvious. We must reduce our over-dependency on imported fossil fuels, and we must boost our homegrown, affordable, clean energy supply from renewables to nuclear in full respect of technology neutrality."

7. VON DER LEYEN SPEAKING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"In the current European budget, we have set aside almost 300 billion euros for energy, 95 billion of which have not been used so far. I know I'm preaching here almost in the wrong church, but let us use this to make the switch now to electricity, not just in transport, but also in industry and in heating."

9. VON DER LEYEN LEAVING PODIUM

10. MEMBERS OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT APPLAUDING