According to French television channel TF1 on Tuesday, the average price of diesel stood at 2.35 euros (2.63 U.S. dollars) per liter, while SP95-E10 gasoline, the most widely sold gasoline in France, stood at 2.14 euros per liter.
On Wednesday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that Europe is currently facing severe challenges in oil and fuel supply, and that the European energy market may come under huge pressure this fall and winter.
Fico noted that the European fuel market is currently being affected by multiple factors.
On the one hand, there is the conflict between Iran and the United States; on the other hand, Europe’s refining capacity is gradually declining, and some countries that used to export petroleum products now need to import large quantities of such products instead.
Fico pointed out that pressure on Europe’s diesel supply is particularly acute at present, which could further drive up diesel prices.
He said that resolving the issues facing the fuel market cannot rely solely on individual measures taken by European Union (EU) member states. He expressed hope that the upcoming EU summit would find solutions to these issues.
Recently, diesel prices in Europe have remained persistently high, and the U.S. government’s threat to ban diesel exports has further intensified market concerns about Europe’s energy supply.
In a social media post on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that energy prices and the measures the EU will take to address rising energy prices will be key topics at the EU summit.