European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, in a video message for a roundtable on LNG and shipping, welcomed the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after a month and a half, calling for a permanent return to freedom of navigation through diplomacy. He stressed that while EU energy supplies are currently not at risk due to full emergency stocks, high global oil and gas prices remain a concern, and the crisis underscores Europe's vulnerability as a major energy importer.
Tzitzikostas argued that the maritime sector is key to diversification, enabling the EU to source crude oil, petroleum products, and LNG from multiple suppliers. He highlighted the growing role of LNG in Europe's energy mix, made possible by port infrastructure and shipping, and pointed to strong transatlantic cooperation: the US has become the EU's first LNG supplier, with imports reaching 76 billion cubic metres in 2025, up from 45 billion cubic metres in 2024. He noted that energy is central to the EU-US trade deal and that several long-term LNG import agreements have been signed as part of the REPowerEU strategy to phase out Russian fossil fuels.
The Commissioner also warned of practical limits in crisis situations, including constraints in specialised tanker segments like LNG carriers, longer voyages, rerouting, war-risk conditions, and higher insurance and freight costs. He concluded that a resilient shipping sector is vital not only for Europe's energy security but also for international trade and functioning energy markets during geopolitical stress.
Tzitzikostas did not announce new concrete proposals or numerical targets, instead reiterating existing commitments to diversification and the transition away from fossil fuels. The speech was largely declarative, calling for continued action rather than unveiling specific policy changes.