EU leaders seek new measures to cut energy costs after Iran war added 100 billion euros in import expenses

EU leaders agreed at a Brussels summit to request new European Commission measures to lower energy costs, responding to over 100 billion euros in extra import expenses since the Iran war began. Chancellor Merz and colleagues seek coordinated, targeted, and temporary action. They welcomed Commission proposals to ease methane climate rules and voluntary demand bundling, while urging faster work on the market stability reserve to reduce price volatility. Leaders also asked the Commission to assess the impact of the new emissions trading system for fuels like petrol and gas, effective 2028, following pressure from Italy and others.