Zagreb, 11 March 2026 (Hina/MIA) — In ten days of war in the Middle East, the price of gas has risen by 50% and oil by 27%, increasing the cost of fossil fuel imports for European taxpayers by an additional €3 billion, but a return to Russian energy would be a strategic blunder, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said.

Since the beginning of this conflict, gas prices have risen by 50% and oil prices by 27%. Translated into euros, ten days of war have already cost European taxpayers an additional €3 billion for fossil fuel imports, she said Wednesday during a debate in the European Parliament on the situation in the Middle East and preparations for an upcoming EU summit.

"In the current crisis, some argue that we should abandon our long-term strategy and even go back to Russian fossil fuels. This would be a strategic blunder," von der Leyen said.

She advocated energy produced on the European continent -- renewable sources and nuclear energy.

The prices of this energy have remained unchanged over the past ten days, von der Leyen said.

She said the EU was preparing other options to lower energy prices for its 27 member states, including state aid measures, power purchasing agreements and subsidies or caps on energy prices.

One possible measure could be reducing taxes on retail energy prices, although this falls within the competence of the Member States.

"Some member states tax electricity much more heavily than gas. For example, one member state applies 0% tax on retail electricity, while some others tax it at over 16%. That makes a difference. Of course, this is a competence of the member states, which I fully respect, but there is room for action," the EC president said.