Overview
- At an emergency Brussels meeting, Ursula von der Leyen called restoring navigation in the Strait of Hormuz paramount and warned the closure is causing major harm.
- She said the Commission will coordinate how countries fill gas storage and will align oil stock releases to avoid bidding up prices and to protect the single market.
- President Donald Trump said the United States would begin a blockade of maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports after talks broke down, raising shipping risks.
- Von der Leyen said EU fossil fuel bills have risen by about €22 billion since the Iran war began and urged joint action on prices to shield households and firms.
- The Commission will table energy price measures on 22 April, with leaders set to discuss them next week, and it plans an electrification strategy before summer; Ireland pressed for rule flexibility on fuel excise as protests grow.