BRUSSELS, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday welcomed a decision by the Group of Seven (G7) countries not to impose export bans on allies, and voiced support for an International Energy Agency (IEA)-coordinated release of fuel stocks.

"Our citizens need and deserve affordable energy," von der Leyen said in a social media X post following a virtual meeting of G7 leaders earlier in the day.

She said the G7 would closely coordinate toward that goal and welcomed "the decision of G7 countries not to impose any export bans on allies."

As to the IEA-coordinated G7 plan to release 100 million barrels of diesel and other oil reserves over the next four months, von der Leyen said the European Union (EU) supported the release, which would strengthen energy security.

Hours before the diesel release announcement, the European Commission publicly rejected the possibility of a U.S. ban on diesel exports.

"We fully reject any ban on diesel. A ban would not be beneficial to anyone," European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told a press briefing earlier on Friday. "It would undermine our trust in the United States as a reliable partner."

Her remarks were made amid questions over reported U.S. pressure on Europe to release oil stocks and the possibility that Washington could restrict diesel exports to Europe.

The Commission and EU member states also held an Energy Union Task Force meeting on Friday to discuss developments in the diesel market and possible measures. It said that since late February, gas prices in Europe have risen by 140 percent and diesel prices have doubled, and Europe was facing an "affordability crisis" due to high energy prices.