Future Shocks 2022: Strengthening our energy security

Defined by the International Energy Agency as 'reliable, affordable access to all fuels and energy sources', energy security is vital to the EU's economy. However, lacking sufficient energy reserves of its own, the EU is critically dependent on imports. In 2020, these covered well over half (57 %) of the EU's energy needs – a figure which rises to 97 % for oil and 84 % for natural gas. Heavy reliance on imports creates vulnerabilities. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 disrupted gas supplies to Europe. The war prompted Germany to suspend certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, and obliged the EU to find ways to drastically reduce their reliance on energy imports from Russia. The European Commission has proposed a reduction of two-thirds in EU energy imports from Russia by the end of 2022. Reflecting these risks, the European Parliament/Normandy Region's Normandy Index identifies energy insecurity as Europe's main external vulnerability.

#FutureShocks2022
REPowerEU: Ensuring Europe's energy security?
Developing EU's energy independence
Fitfor55: a new energy system

- Original publication on the EP Think Tank website
- Subscription to our RSS feed in case your have your own RSS reader
- Podcast available on Deezer, iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, YouTube

Source: © European Union - EP