Finance
EU exploring subsidising or capping gas price, commission says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 11, 2026
1 min readLast updated: March 11, 2026
Quick Summary
The EU is considering subsidising or capping natural gas prices to ease surging costs, while confirming emergency oil reserves are full and ready for release as coordinated with the IEA.
EU Weighs Gas Price Cap or Subsidies to Curb Soaring Energy Costs
EU Considers Measures to Address Rising Energy Prices
Subsidising or Capping Natural Gas Prices
BRUSSELS, March 11 (Reuters) - The European Union is exploring subsidising or capping the price of natural gas as a way to curb energy costs, European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said on Wednesday.
EU Emergency Oil Stocks and Preparedness
Current Status of Oil Stocks
She added that the EU's emergency oil stocks "are full" and the bloc stands ready to take all necessary measures in coordination with members of the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Upcoming Discussions and Recommendations
Oil Coordination Group Meeting
The EU's oil coordination group will on Thursday discuss a recommendation expected by the IEA later on Wednesday to release emergency oil stocks, Itkonen told journalists during a daily press briefing.
(Reporting by Kate Abnett, Writing by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Editing by Kate Abnett)
Key Takeaways
- •The European Commission is exploring gas price caps or subsidies in response to sharp energy price increases, speaking March 11, 2026 (lemonde.fr).
- •EU emergency oil stocks are currently full, and discussions are underway—with IEA coordination—to potentially release reserves, with an oil coordination group set to convene on March 12 (lemonde.fr).
- •Gas prices in the EU have spiked nearly 60%, and industrial sectors are feeling pressure—this follows previous mechanisms, like the 2022‑2025 Market Correction Mechanism (price cap regime), which the EU may revisit amid current crisis (lemonde.fr)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about EU exploring subsidising or capping gas price, Commission says
1Why is the EU considering subsidising or capping gas prices?
The EU is exploring these measures to help curb rising energy costs within the bloc.
2What did the European Commission say about emergency oil stocks?
The Commission stated that the EU's emergency oil stocks are currently full and ready for use if required.
3How is the EU coordinating with the International Energy Agency (IEA)?
The EU plans to coordinate with IEA members and is discussing the potential release of emergency oil stocks based on IEA recommendations.
4When will the EU oil coordination group meet next?
The EU's oil coordination group is scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss further actions regarding energy stocks.
5Who provided the latest information on the EU's energy policy?
European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen shared the latest updates during a press briefing.
