Belgium: Von der Leyen warns of rising EU energy costs, vows action.

Shotlist FILE: Brussels, Belgium - Dec 15, 2025 1. Various of Berlaymont building (headquarters of European Commission), EU flags FILE: Helsinki, Finland - Date Unknown 2. Various of truck moving on road, refinery, gas flare FILE: Sopot, Poland - April 1, 2026 3. Vehicles at gas station 4. Screens showing prices FILE: Vienna, Austria - March 19, 2026 5. Aerial shot of gas station, price board FILE: Berlin, Germany - April 10, 2026 6. Traffic, gas station FILE: Warsaw, Poland - March 2026 7. Gas station FILE: Germany - March 25, 2022 8. Gas station 9. Price board FILE: Madrid, Spain - March 18, 2022 10. Board showing oil price 11. Traffic Storyline European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday warned of surging fossil fuel prices, saying measures would be taken to tackle rising energy costs as winter approaches. Addressing the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg, France, von der Leyen said natural gas prices in Europe had jumped 140 percent and diesel prices had doubled since late February, with an extra 100 billion euros spent on imported fossil fuels. With winter approaching, high energy costs were likely to put more strain on households and businesses, she said, adding the European Union would roll out measures including a strategic dialogue for European refineries and joint energy purchases to curb rising energy prices and cut reliance on imported fossil fuels. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]