The Green Party members in the EU Parliament have urged the European Commission to take action against the sharp rise in oil prices. MEP Rasmus Andresen told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland that, together with national competition authorities, the EU must launch a rapid investigation into the alleged abuse by the major oil companies. He also called on Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to reinstate the “excess‑profits tax” on oil firms that was implemented a few years ago. According to Andresen, this tax had helped curb illegal price‑rigging by energy companies during the early phase of the Ukraine war. He added that the EU cannot accept oil firms exploiting the current global situation and shamelessly hiking prices, and that measures such as a temporary cap on oil prices should also be explored.