Polish MEP Piotr Müller (ECR) has challenged the European Commission's regulatory stance on gas and coal, arguing that the EU's restrictive approach undermines energy security at a time of heightened geopolitical instability. In a written parliamentary question submitted on 15 April 2026, Müller points to the Commission's recent recommendations for more flexibility in replenishing gas storage as evidence that gas remains a key pillar of EU energy security, yet the EU taxonomy and the ETS2 system continue to penalise these fuels. He calls for a pragmatic, technology-neutral energy policy that reduces regulatory burdens and ensures affordable prices for citizens and industry.
Müller's question contains three concrete asks: first, a justification for maintaining restrictive rules on gas and coal despite their security role; second, an assessment of the regulatory framework's resilience to geopolitical shocks, including the role of national coal resources; and third, a possible revision of the approach toward full technological neutrality. The question does not set numerical targets or deadlines but signals a clear policy orientation: prioritising supply security and affordability over decarbonisation speed, and advocating for a more permissive stance on fossil fuels.
As a written parliamentary question under Rule 144, the Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will indicate whether the Commission is open to revisiting its taxonomy and ETS2 rules in light of security concerns, or whether it will reaffirm its climate-first trajectory. This exchange reflects a broader cleavage between member states that favour energy sovereignty and those prioritising the Green Deal, with implications for EU producers, consumers, and national energy authorities.