BRUSSELS — If a jet fuel crisis led to shortages across the European Union, member countries could be asked to share fuel reserves, Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said Tuesday.
The EU “maintains emergency stocks” of jet fuel that “can be and will be released only if necessary,” he said during a press briefing after a videoconference with EU transport ministers, adding: “Any national release of fuel must be done in full transparency to avoid market distortions.”
Asked on the sidelines whether EU countries should be obliged to coordinate and share jet fuel reserves, he said: “What is voluntary today could become compulsory.” However, he maintained there’s “no need to panic” on the availability of the fuel in the bloc.
“We will assess whether we need a minimum stock obligation for jet fuel, requiring member states to maintain minimum emergency reserves,” he said during the press conference.
