Security, climate and competitiveness – Europe’s energy crises

Opening EU Sustainable Energy Week 2025, Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen addressed three crises in Europe’s energy sector – security, climate change and competitiveness.

Opening his comments he pointed to the strong message of the European Commission of “no more” to Russia – no more to using energy against Europe, no more to blackmailing member states and no more to indirectly helping to fill the war chests.

“We need to become 100% independent of Russian energy … Since 2022 the EU has bought energy for a bigger amount that given to aid Ukraine and it has to stop,” he said.

To this end at the end of 2025 there will be a ban on spot market gas purchases and by the end of 2027 there will be a ban on long term contracts.

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Commenting that if the gas taps were to be turned off it would throw Europe into severe crisis, even depression, Jørgensen said this illustrates the risk of being dependent on a single source for energy.

But energy security is also about far more than stopping sending money to the Kremlin, he added, pointing to the bill of more than €400 billion for the import of fossil fuels into Europe.

“This isn’t sustainable and instead of buying energy, we need to be producing our own sustainable and renewable energy.”

Turning to the second crisis or challenge of the climate, Jørgensen said Europe has a “moral imperative” to fight climate change.

“We have polluted for more than 100 years but we also have a common responsibility and we need to show leadership,” he said, coming back to the theme of renewables.

“We need to fast track them, with better and faster permitting, more investments and less bureaucracy.”

Then third the crisis of competitiveness and Jørgensen referenced the high energy prices, approximately two to three times higher than competitors including the US and China.

“To address these three challenges – security, climate and competitiveness – we need to stay on track and the green transition is the answer for these.”