# EU energy ministers admit they have run out of ideas

> European gas prices hit four-year highs as governments struggle to shield citizens from surging costs and reject demands that voters cut energy use.
- Title: EU energy ministers admit they have run out of ideas
- Summary: European gas prices hit four-year highs as governments struggle to shield citizens from surging costs and reject demands that voters cut energy use. EU…
- Keywords: eu energy ministers, gas prices, energy crisis, fossil fuel subsidies, european commission, middle east war, energy policy, politics, world, energy, ministers, admit
- Source: POLITICO — https://politico.eu/article/eu-energy-prices-fossil-fuels-gas-middle-east-four-year-high
- Published: 2026-10-29T19:00:41+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: eu energy ministers, gas prices, energy crisis, fossil fuel subsidies, european commission, middle east war, energy policy, politics, world
## Gas prices hit four-year high
European gas prices soared above one hundred euros per megawatt-hour on Wednesday for the first time since twenty twenty-two, driven by panic-buying and Middle East supply pressures.
## Ministers admit defeat on prices
At a Luxembourg summit on Thursday, EU energy ministers acknowledged they have exhausted short-term options to contain price pressures. One senior official said what remains is crisis management.

> We've exhausted most of our short-term options. What's left is really crisis management.
## Cutting demand is off the table
Despite EU energy chief Dan Jørgensen's earlier calls for consumers to cut energy use, European ministers refuse to make this official policy, fearing political backlash from voters.

> I don't want to see that we will limit people.
## Finland proposes behavior change
Finland's state secretary Mika Nykänen said instead of limiting people, policy should encourage behavior change through subsidies for energy efficiency improvements like better windows.

> For instance, subsidies to invest in the energy efficiency of houses, windows.
## Fossil fuel subsidies now accepted
Jørgensen reluctantly accepted that energy subsidies could include fossil fuels as well as clean alternatives, but urged they be targeted and temporary.
## Von der Leyen warns against subsidies
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned national leaders against fossil fuel subsidies, urging them to keep policies temporary and targeted to avoid increasing fossil fuel demand and distorting the EU single market.
## Other relief measures have failed
Von der Leyen rejected calls for an EU-wide windfall tax on oil and gas company profits.A Commission proposal to coordinate energy purchases was questioned as impractical.Strategic reserve releases have done little to ease fuel costs.
## Long-term clean energy faces pushback
A Commission proposal to make electricity bills affordable and speed electrification by ensuring electricity is not taxed more heavily than natural gas faced member state resistance on Thursday over concerns Brussels is overstepping EU treaty…
## Countries resist EU tax interference
Sweden, Germany, Poland and Italy warned the taxation provisions would face pushback, with concerns about EU interference in national tax policy and potential impact on industry and household costs.

> a lot of pushback
## Key takeaway

EU energy ministers acknowledged they have exhausted short-term options to contain soaring energy prices as gas hit four-year highs, while refusing to ask voters to cut consumption.