European Commission launches strategic dialogue with oil refiners

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has initiated a "strategic dialogue" with representatives from the European oil refining industry to address regional fuel production challenges.

The initiative comes amid growing recognition within Brussels that domestic fuel manufacturing needs to be expanded rather than restricted. According to industry figures, European refineries have faced structural difficulties since the early 2000s, largely driven by aggressive market competition from major foreign producers such as Saudi Aramco. This long-term contraction of European refining infrastructure has left the continent increasingly dependent on imported refined fuels, contributing to elevated consumer prices and supply vulnerabilities across the region.

Sources: Ekonomický deník