BRUSSELS: The EU unveiled Wednesday plans to address the energy crisis triggered by the war in the Middle East, including improved monitoring of jet fuel supplies as the prospect of shortages rattles Europe ahead of the summer travel season. Rather than any flagship measures, Brussels outlined recommendations for member states and initiatives to be presented as part of what the European Commission called a &quot;toolbox&quot; to help navigate current and future straits. Here are some of the steps that EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said &quot;will bring both immediate and more structural relief measures to European citizens and businesses&quot;. Jet fuel&nbsp;The commission said it would establish a &quot;fuel observatory&quot; to track EU production, imports, exports and stock levels of transport fuels. While Brussels has said there is currently no evidence of &quot;actual shortages&quot;, focus will initially be on aviation fuels. The commission will coordinate with member states, fuel suppliers, airports and airlines on the sourcing of alternative jet fuel supply and propose measures to optimise its distribution across the bloc to ensure availability. About 20% of jet fuel consumed in the 27-nation EU relies on imports via the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed by the war. Next month, the EU will also issue guidance on &quot;flexibilities&quot; allowed by current rules on the handling of airport slots and of anti-tankering -- provisions limiting how much fuel a plane can take off with -- as well as public service obligations. EU transport chief Apostolos Tzitzikostas said Tuesday that Brussels was also considering importing more jet fuel from the US and requiring member states to hold minimum reserves. Gas and fertilizers&nbsp;The EU said it would coordinate both gas storage filling to avoid price hikes and, as for jet fuels, any possible oil stock releases that might become necessary. It suggested that nations consider filling gas tanks a little less than usual, up to 80% of capacity rather than 90%, and added that it could further lower the threshold to 75% if needed. Since the beginning of US and Israeli strikes against Iran, the EU has spent an additional 24 billion euros ($28.2 billion ) on energy imports because of higher prices, according to Brussels. For fertilizers, whose prices have also skyrocketed, the EU will present an action plan in May to diversify supplies and support European production. Relaxed rules and best practices&nbsp;The commission will adopt a temporary state aid framework to allow member states more wiggle room to support the &quot;most exposed sectors&quot;. European countries will be able to help heavy industry, agriculture, and fishing, among others. Brussels will share best practices from across the bloc to reduce energy consumption and speed the uptake of renewables, such as incentives for heat pumps and solar energy. By the summer, it will present an &quot;electrification action plan&quot; to further accelerate &quot;the shift to homegrown clean energy&quot;, which is to include a new &quot;electrification target&quot;. The commission said it would propose a review of production criteria for renewable hydrogen to speed up the development of hydrogen-based alternative fuels such as Sustainable Aviation electro-Fuels (eSAF).

France's Government Spokesperson and junior Minister for Energy and Digital economy Maud Bregeon speaks next to France’s junior Minister for Public Accounts David Amiel during a press conference following the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee President

Europe

Rather than any flagship measures, Brussels outlined recommendations for member states and initiatives to be presented as part of what the European Commission called a "toolbox" to help navigate current and future straits.

EU unveils plans to tackle energy crisis

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ISLAMABAD: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran has triggered a severe disruption to global energy supplies, with Asia expected to suffer &ldquo;the most,&rdquo; global maritime analytics firm Kpler told AFP. The strait, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which nearly a fifth of the world&rsquo;s crude oil and significant volumes of gas flow, has been effectively shut to commercial shipping since US-Israeli strikes on Iran escalated into a broader regional conflict. The crisis has rapidly evolved into a global energy shock, with International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol describing it as &ldquo;the greatest global energy security threat in history.&rdquo; At the same time, the standoff between Tehran and Washington continues to deepen. US President Donald Trump has warned that reopening the Strait of Hormuz remains a key condition for any ceasefire, while Iran has signaled it will maintain pressure over the strategic route. Asia takes the brunt&ldquo;We think Asia will, for now, be the ones suffering the most,&rdquo; said Kpler president Jean Maynier. &ldquo;There is almost no crude oil arriving&hellip; and inventories are being depleted,&rdquo; he added. Around 84% of oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz is destined for Asia, leaving major economies such as China, India, Japan and South Korea particularly exposed. China alone imported 5.4 million barrels per day through the strait in the first quarter, while India relied on roughly 2.1 million barrels per day, underscoring the scale of dependence on Gulf energy flows. Experts say that while short-term buffers exist, including elevated global inventories, spare OPEC capacity and US shale output, a prolonged closure would still significantly disrupt supply access. &ldquo;A full closure&hellip; would still impact the accessibility of a major part of this spare production capacity,&rdquo; analysts noted. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have limited infrastructure to bypass the strait, but their combined capacity, around 2.6 million barrels per day, falls far short of offsetting the disruption. Europe, US less exposedWhile global prices have surged, Europe and the United States are comparatively less vulnerable. However, secondary effects are emerging. LNG shipments are being redirected toward Asia, raising concerns over shortages in Europe, while energy prices are expected to remain elevated. Even so, analysts warn that no region is fully insulated from the shock. Leaders under pressureThe crisis is placing growing pressure on global leaders as markets react to prolonged uncertainty. President Trump has alternated between threats and diplomacy, warning of potential strikes on Iran&rsquo;s energy infrastructure while also signaling openness to negotiations. Iran, meanwhile, has denied direct talks while continuing to assert control over Hormuz. G7 ministers have pledged to take &ldquo;any necessary measures&rdquo; to stabilize markets, while emergency oil stock releases are being considered to ease supply constraints. Analysts say the duration of the disruption has caught markets off guard. &ldquo;What is surprising is the length of this event&hellip; especially in Asia, the crisis that we have now with energy,&rdquo; Maynier said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s really bad for Asia and we are not optimistic if the event continues.&rdquo; The closure of Hormuz highlights how the conflict has moved beyond military confrontation, turning critical trade routes into strategic pressure points &mdash; with Asia now at the center of the global economic fallout.

Asia

Middle East

Hormuz closure disrupts global energy flows, with Asia hardest hit as supplies drop sharply, while Trump and Tehran harden positions, deepening uncertainty and driving price volatility across markets already strained by prolonged regional conflict.

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EU unveils plans to tackle energy crisis

Hormuz closure hits Asia hardest as Iran war disrupts energy