European Union citizens have paid an estimated €53 billion in higher road fuel prices since the start of the Iran war. This staggering sum, detailed in a report by Brussels-based environmental group Transport & Environment (T&E), represents a direct transfer of wealth from European households and businesses. It's a cost that weakens our nations and exposes the fragility of a continent unable to secure its own energy future.
The report, covering the 28 weeks to 6 September, reveals that most of this extra cost — €40 billion — came from diesel. Higher road fuel prices have added an average of €270 million a day to transport costs across the EU, with diesel alone accounting for €203 million daily. This isn't just a number; it's a daily burden on working families and the vital transport sector that keeps our economies moving.
The Cost to Our People
Diesel and gasoil make up about 43% of the oil products used in the EU by volume. This figure stands around 16 percentage points above the global average and is roughly twice the US share, highlighting Europe's disproportionate reliance. In 2024, nearly four in 10 passenger cars on EU roads ran on diesel, and road transport consumed 77% of the EU’s diesel and gasoil that year. These aren't abstract statistics; they represent the daily commutes of millions of Europeans.
An average EU diesel car driver paid about €142 more over the period studied compared to the previous year. By 14 September, filling a standard 50-litre diesel tank cost approximately €30 more than before the war. For the backbone of our economy, the long-haul truckers, the impact is even more severe: an average German long-haul diesel truck incurred about €6,000 in extra fuel costs over the period, equivalent to €236 a week. These are the people whose livelihoods are directly threatened by Brussels' energy policies.
Crude oil prices have risen sharply since the war began, but diesel prices have climbed even faster. The conflict has disrupted fuel production and exports from the Middle East, while attacks on Russian refineries have further reduced global supply. Diesel and gasoil exports from the Middle East and Russia together fell by almost 75% in August compared with a year earlier. This reliance on volatile foreign sources is a direct consequence of a lack of national energy sovereignty.
Brussels' Energy Failure
The gap between the price of crude oil and wholesale diesel exceeded $100 a barrel in early September, far beyond the typical range of $10 to $30. On 14 September, the weighted average EU diesel price reached €2.159 a litre, marking the highest point in the European Commission’s series dating back to 2005. This record price underscores a systemic failure to secure affordable and reliable energy for European citizens and industries.
ECB experts told Euronews Business last week that, based on fuel futures, diesel refining margins were expected to peak in October. This forecast offers little comfort to those struggling with current costs. Supply could tighten further in autumn as demand for heating oil, farm machinery, and freight rises, coinciding with seasonal refinery maintenance. The prospect of the US considering a full or partial ban on diesel exports, supported by President Donald Trump, adds another layer of vulnerability to Europe's energy supply.
A Continent Weakened
T&E suggested short-term measures to cut consumption, such as increased working from home, lowering motorway speed limits, investing in public transport, and providing fuel-saving advice. While these might offer minor relief, they don't address the fundamental issue of energy dependence. The group also argued that electric vehicles would reduce Europe’s exposure to oil price shocks in the longer term, estimating that nearly eight million electric cars in the EU avoided the use of about 46 million barrels of oil in 2025, saving €2.9 billion in oil imports. Yet, these solutions often come at the cost of European industry and further dependence on foreign supply chains for critical components.
This energy crisis isn't merely an economic inconvenience; it's a profound challenge to national sovereignty. A Europe that cannot secure its own energy is a Europe that cannot fully control its destiny, its economy, or its borders. The billions drained from our economies by external conflicts and a lack of self-sufficiency mean fewer resources for our own people, for national defence, and for maintaining the cultural continuity of our nations. The Brussels elite's focus on distant green agendas, while ignoring the immediate energy security of its member states, leaves our working and middle classes exposed and our nations weakened.