In a letter reviewed by Bloomberg, Macron pressed European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen to relax fuel-quality rules so the bloc's refineries can make up to 20% more fuel products. He also floated letting producers blend a higher share of biofuel into diesel to stretch supply.
He paired that with a request for a one-year delay to methane regulations scheduled to start on Jan. 1. The climate measure, aimed at the potent greenhouse gas, has drawn sharp criticism from importers and the US government, who argue it would constrain oil and gas shipments to Europe.
A European Commission spokesperson said the letter was received.
Macron warned that if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen promptly and the East-West oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia remains offline, worldwide product flows could drop by roughly 4 million barrels per day. He noted that global inventories have already declined by over 500 million barrels.
With Middle East risks keeping benchmark crude near $100, Europe's diesel market is feeling the strain. On multiple occasions this month, regional diesel futures exceeded $200 a barrel, a level not seen since the war's early phase, as supply was disrupted by a conflict involving Iran and by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Add taxes and retail costs work out to more than $300 a barrel. Europe, Macron noted, imports 36% of its kerosene and 18% of its diesel from the Middle East.
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Diesel prices at European forecourts are jumping, a hot-button issue in France where higher fuel costs helped spark the Yellow Vest protests in late 2018. With living costs surging and unions urging walkouts, the government is feeling the pressure. In Paris on Tuesday, ministers plan to unveil targeted fuel relief; however, choices are constrained as France contends with an expanding budget gap before next year's presidential elections.
Looking across the bloc, EU leaders meet in Brussels next month with competitiveness at the top of the agenda. Energy has dominated recent talks as Hormuz disruptions keep prices elevated and revive worries about winter fuel availability. Last week, Macron stated he would call a Group of Seven meeting to consider tapping strategic oil-product reserves. On Monday, he discussed with US President Donald Trump the idea of pausing deep attacks on energy infrastructure between Ukraine and Russia.
If Brussels loosens product specs or delays methane rules, refiners could squeeze out more barrels and take some heat off diesel and kerosene prices. Any G7 move to tap strategic stockpiles would push the same way. Watch those policy levers, and whether Hormuz flows normalize, because they filter directly into pump prices and shipping costs that flow through everyday budgets.
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