The European Union will develop a new tool to swiftly block access to the bloc’s market in the event of a trade war, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said.
Her announcement came after France and Germany said on Friday that they wanted to strengthen the EU’s legal armoury in case of a potential trade conflict with China.
"We will develop a new instrument for decisive action by limiting access to the single market where this is in the union’s interests fast and immediately," she told reporters after EU leaders met in Brussels.
Von der Leyen also reiterated calls for Europe to change the way it consumes energy, warning that the bloc’s dependence on imported fossil fuels has increased costs by $119 billion without delivering any additional energy.
Speaking at a press conference after the summit, she said Europe’s reliance on imported oil and gas continues to expose its economy to geopolitical developments beyond its control.
She said gas prices had surged by around 140 percent since late February, while diesel prices had doubled, highlighting the economic consequences of the ongoing energy crisis.
"We must also change the way we consume energy," von der Leyen said, calling for the replacement of foreign fossil fuels with electricity produced in Europe.
Energy transition
She stressed that Europe must remain committed to its energy transition, focusing on affordable, clean and domestically produced energy sources, including nuclear power and renewables.
European Council President Antonio Costa also highlighted the impact of high and volatile energy prices on households and businesses, describing energy costs as a crucial component of Europe’s competitiveness.
He said the bloc was paying the price of its dependence on fossil fuels and the absence of a fully integrated single energy market.
Costa also announced that he would convene another informal meeting of EU leaders in Alden Biesen, Belgium, in February 2027 to assess progress on defence and competitiveness following previous discussions.
Short-term measures
Von der Leyen outlined several short-term measures agreed upon to mitigate the impact of rising energy prices.
These include the release of 100 million barrels of oil and diesel over the next four months, managed by the International Energy Agency, extending the scope and duration of a temporary state aid framework introduced in February, and postponing implementation of the methane regulation by one year.
The EU will also launch a strategic dialogue on European refineries, with the aim of strengthening refining capacity within the bloc and helping bring prices down.
Von der Leyen also addressed concerns over the EU’s trade relationship with China, calling for a substantial and rapid rebalancing of economic ties.
She said the bloc’s trade deficit with China reached €1 billion per day in 2025 and warned that the imbalance was expected to worsen in 2026.
Costa said the bloc’s commitment to Ukraine remained strong and that the EU had identified the means to cover the country’s financial needs for this year. He called on the European Commission to propose measures addressing additional financing needs for 2027.
