French President Emmanuel Macron has asked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to temporarily ease EU fuel-quality rules and delay methane-related importer obligations, citing tightening oil markets and domestic fuel shortages, according to a letter dated Sept. 18 that Euronews (opens in new tab) and POLITICO both reported having seen.
Euronews (opens in new tab) said Macron warned that Europe’s buffers—stockpiles, refinery flexibility, weaker demand, and redirected trade—are eroding as the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Middle East energy infrastructure squeeze supply. The letter, as quoted by Euronews (opens in new tab), said international supply had deteriorated again from attacks on energy infrastructure in Russia and the Middle East and recovering Asian consumption.
France reported that 14% of gas stations faced shortages or near-shortages as of 9 a.m. on Sept. 22, according to the French government figures cited by Euronews (opens in new tab). Macron’s letter said that if Hormuz remains effectively closed and Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline does not resume, depletion of Saudi stocks could remove at least another 4 million barrels a day from global crude supply, and that global oil inventories have fallen by more than 500 million barrels.
On remedies, Macron urged the Commission to temporarily relax some fuel-quality specifications—including density, volatility, and desulphurisation parameters—so refineries could raise jet fuel and diesel output by roughly 5% to 20%, depending on the plant, Euronews (opens in new tab) reported. He also asked for greater use of B10 diesel (up to 10% biodiesel) versus standard B7, with temporary limits coordinated with vehicle manufacturers. POLITICO likewise reported requests to soften fuel-composition rules and allow more biofuels in diesel.
Macron further asked Brussels to postpone by one year, until Jan. 1, 2028, importers’ methane-information obligations under EU rules adopted in May 2024, Euronews (opens in new tab) reported. The Commission has already recommended delaying financial penalties until the end of 2029; Paris argued the reporting duty itself creates legal uncertainty for importers. POLITICO framed the ask as delaying rules that would fine oil and gas companies for failing to report methane emissions.
Euronews (opens in new tab) said Macron also proposed examining whether the EU’s joint gas-purchasing mechanism could be extended to diesel and jet fuel. Reacting to the letter, the Commission said Tuesday that potential supply shortages across member states are “extremely high on the agenda” and would be discussed soon at a high-level meeting with industry and EU countries. POLITICO noted oil prices near their highest since May and gas prices more than double pre-February levels after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran prompted Hormuz’s closure; France has ruled out across-the-board fuel tax cuts while presenting further domestic measures.