The European Commission has publicly acknowledged that it is approaching a prolonged energy crisis as an operational scenario. Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen warned that energy prices will remain "very high for a very long time" and the EU must prepare for the worst.

Since the Middle East conflict began, European gas prices have risen around 70 percent and oil by 60 percent. Just 30 days of blockade cost the EU €14 billion in fossil fuel imports.

Brussels is coordinating member states to fill gas storage facilities early ahead of next winter. Rationing of critical products has not yet been introduced, but remains on the table.

"Even if the conflict ended immediately, consequences would last a long time due to damaged infrastructure," said Jørgensen, emphasising that Brussels' message is clear: this is not a short-term shock but a sustained test of Europe's crisis management capacity.