Back in December 2025, the Commission presented the Grids Package, which is designed to drive forward the expansion and modernisation of the EU’s energy infrastructure, thereby reducing costs and strengthening independence. The Citizens’ Energy Package, presented in March, also aims to deliver affordable and clean energy. In light of the current crisis, the AccelerateEU communication was published on 22 April. The aim is to deepen cooperation between Member States in the short term and provide relief for consumers and producers, whilst focusing on accelerating the energy transition in the long term.

The energy crisis could continue to be a concern for the EU

As the International Energy Agency (IEA) reports, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz represents the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market. However, Europe is less directly affected by the consequences than it was in 2022, the reason being that EU has diversified its gas supply, expanded renewable energy and better prepared itself for energy crises. Nevertheless, gas and fuel prices have risen. Furthermore, indirect effects caused by supply bottlenecks in other regions and the resulting bidding wars could push prices up even further. According to a Greenpeace study, oil companies are currently reporting record daily profits. As said by the responsible EU Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, the effects of the crisis will continue to be felt for some time even if lasting peace is achieved, as many energy facilities in the Middle East have been destroyed.

The Commission’s proposals on crisis management

The Commission has now responded to the crisis with AccelerateEU. As part of this initiative, the Commission is proposing a total of five packages of measures: two for short-term support and three for implementing long-term strategies. An EU-wide windfall profit tax on energy companies, which had been discussed beforehand, was not put forward.

The short-term measures aim to better coordinate Member States on gas storage, oil reserve release, and aviation fuel, preventing competition between countries. In addition, targeted, rapid and temporary support measures are planned to protect consumers and industry from price shocks. These include, among other, measures from the Citizens’ Energy Package presented in March and more flexible state aid rules, which are to be adopted before the end of April. This temporary crisis framework is intended to benefit not only sectors particularly affected such as agriculture, fisheries, road transport and short-sea shipping; a temporary adjustment to the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) is also planned to provide even greater protection against electricity price spikes.

In the long term, the Commission is committed to accelerating the transition to clean energy. The top priority is to advance energy efficiency and electrification. Secondly, investment in the energy transition is to be mobilised and accelerated through private financing, EU funds and emissions trading revenues. And thirdly, the energy system is to become more robust and cost-effective through more efficient grids, faster approvals and greater storage and flexibility capacities. In this context, the Commission is also calling for the negotiations on the Grids Package to be accelerated.

The Grid Package as a strategy for reducing electricity costs

The inadequate integration of energy infrastructure across the EU is preventing the creation of a genuine Energy Union and is contributing to high import dependency and highly volatile electricity prices. According to the Commission, the Grids Package is designed to improve European infrastructure planning, speeding up permitting processes, and distribute costs more fairly for cross-border projects. Moreover, additional funding opportunities are proposed. Eight Energy Highways, which address the most urgent infrastructure needs, are being given particularly high priority.

AK welcomes the Package  as a significant step towards strengthening the grids in line with the energy transition. However, it is crucial that commercial electricity generators contribute to grid costs based on their consumption and that costs are shared fairly internationally. Otherwise, Austrian grid users will continue to bear an excessive burden due to Austria’s role as a central electricity transit hub. Furthermore, public co-financing of grid expansion is essential to reduce grid tariffs; a focus on private capital, by contrast, would jeopardise affordability. A recent study commissioned by AK Vienna finds that an optimal mix of measures could cut financing costs by 20 per cent. Faster approvals proposed in the draft regulation are beneficial but should align with environmental protection and public input.

Further information

EU Commission: Commission proposes actions to protect Europeans from the fossil energy crisis
EU Commission: Commission presents measures to increase EU's energy independence and affordability
EU Commission: Commission proposes upgrade of the EU's energy infrastructure to lower bills and boost independence
AK EUROPA: Industry, energy and automotive. New plans for the transformation
AK EUROPA: Position Paper: European Grids Package
A&W-Blog: (K)eine Krise wie damals? Not a crisis like the one back then? (German only)
Euractiv: The Brief – Brussels shies from severe energy economy measures
POLITICO: How the EU’s mega energy crisis plan will — and won’t — help