The European Commission published a package of measures on Wednesday (April 22) seeking to offset surging energy prices, as countries grapple with one of the biggest shocks to energy markets in history from the Iran war.

European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jorgenson said the EU would work with member states to refill gas stocks without adding unnecessary pressure on markets, as he gave a press conference in the EU headquarters in Brussels.

The Commission also set out plans to change EU tax rules, to ensure electricity is taxed below natural gas.

Jorgenson emphasized that clean energy represented the path to security, affordability and independence for the bloc. "Now it is more obvious than ever. Clean energy means security. It means affordability. It means independence," he said.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TERESA RIBERA AND EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR ENERGY DAN JORGENSON GIVING PRESS CONFERENCE

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (APRIL 22, 2026) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access all)

1. PRESS CONFERENCE WITH EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TERESA RIBERA AND EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR ENERGY DAN JORGENSON STARTING

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR ENERGY DAN JORGENSON SAYING:

"The coming months will be filled with uncertainties. The crisis will hit different member states in different ways. As we cannot predict everything, we must be prepared for anything. But in the face of these uncertainties, there are things that we can be certain about. We can protect the most vulnerable citizens in our communities. We can protect the most exposed sectors of our economies, such as energy-intensive industries. And crucially, we can take action that will protect us from future shocks."

3. PRESS CONFERENCE ONGOING

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR ENERGY DAN JORGENSON SAYING:

"We will therefore work with member states to refill our gas stocks in time for next winter without adding unnecessary pressure on markets. And we will step up action to ensure that the supply of fuels, including for planes, are adequate across the whole (European) Union."

5. WHITE FRAME

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR ENERGY DAN JORGENSON SAYING:

"We will seek to maximize existing refining capacity in Europe and look into our rules on strategic and emergency stocks to see if more can be done."

7. WHITE FRAME

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR ENERGY DAN JORGENSON SAYING:

"Now it is more obvious than ever. Clean energy means security. It means affordability. It means independence. This is why today we propose an acceleration towards electrification."

9. PRESS CONFERENCE ONGOING