World · Europe · 1 hr ago
EU leaders fail to agree on steps to ease energy costs
EU leaders did not agree on concrete steps to lower energy prices at a summit in Brussels.
The 27-country bloc is facing higher oil and gas costs after the war with Iran drove up energy prices.
The rise is adding to inflation and putting pressure on businesses, consumers and economic growth.
Some countries want changes to the EU carbon market, which requires certain companies to buy permits for their emissions, but others oppose weakening it.
Leaders backed work on making carbon-market prices more predictable and asked the European Commission to assess a planned system that would charge for emissions from fuels such as petrol and gas from 2028.
Governments can cut energy taxes to help households and companies, but that puts a strain on national budgets.
The summit ended without a shared plan to bring prices down, and leaders will continue discussing the EU budget and other economic issues.
EU leaders did not agree on concrete steps to ease high energy costs at their summit in Brussels.
The dispute over possible remedies delayed talks on the bloc’s competitiveness and postponed an evening news conference.
Italy and four central European countries challenged the EU’s carbon emissions trading system, while several northern and western European countries opposed changes.
Leaders backed work on making emissions trading more predictable and asked the European Commission to assess the effects of a system due to start in 2028.
The Iran war has driven up energy prices and increased the cost of energy imports for the EU.
- Who
- Leaders of the 27 European Union countries.
- What
- They discussed ways to ease high energy costs but did not agree on concrete measures.
- When
- At a two-day summit starting Thursday, October 15, 2026.
- Where
- Brussels, Belgium.
- Why
- Energy prices have risen amid the Iran war, adding pressure on businesses, consumers and the European economy.
Italy and the Visegrad countries
Northern countries, Germany, the Netherlands and France
EU emissions trading system
Italy and the Visegrad countries
Italy and the Visegrad countries questioned the system’s role, citing energy security concerns.
Northern countries, Germany, the Netherlands and France
The opposing countries rejected their requests; Germany and northern countries supported keeping the system.
EU leaders began a two-day summit in Brussels, with energy costs among the main issues.
Negotiations on energy costs continued through the day, delaying the competitiveness discussion and cancelling the evening news conference.
Leaders ended the talks without decisions on energy prices, leaving the matter at an exchange of views.
- EU membership
- 27 countries
- Energy import costs
- More than €100 billion in additional spending since the start of the Iran war, according to Handelsblatt
- ETS2 start
- 2028
- Visegrad countries
- Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia
- EU emissions trading
- Leaders called for the system to be more reliable and predictable
4 sources
What people are saying
Nobody has an idea on this frustrating issue
This European Council will be long because the topics on the agenda are delicate and all current