EU governments are holding crisis talks over whether to tap strategic stocks, a step that could ease pressure on markets but would also reduce a buffer reserved for major disruptions.
The discussions reflect growing concern about diesel availability, prices and the risk of supply shortages across member states.
Officials are assessing how much fuel could be released, how quickly it could reach consumers and whether coordinated action is needed across the bloc.
Any decision would likely require agreement among national governments and could be shaped by market conditions, refinery output and disruptions to imports.
Diesel is critical to freight transport, agriculture and industry, making shortages particularly damaging to the wider economy.
The talks come as European countries seek to balance immediate relief for businesses and drivers with the need to preserve emergency reserves for a prolonged supply crisis. A release could calm markets in the short term, but analysts caution that it would not resolve underlying supply constraints.