EU Warns of Energy Dependence Risks

EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra and Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius have warned that Europe’s reliance on imported energy could become a strategic vulnerability in the event of a military conflict, Politico reported.

The EU currently imports about 95% of the oil and 85% of the natural gas it consumes. According to EU officials, the energy crisis that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine demonstrated how exposed the European economy can be to external shocks. Recent tensions in the Middle East have reinforced those concerns.

Hoekstra argued that modern conflicts are not won solely on the battlefield but also through secure logistics and resilient supply chains. He therefore described expanding domestic energy production – including renewables, nuclear power and synthetic fuels – as a strategic priority.

“I understand why the average general is freaking out about this huge dependency”, he said.

Kubilius, meanwhile, described the European Green Deal as both a climate and geopolitical project. Its goal, he said, is to reduce dependence on external suppliers and strengthen Europe’s energy sovereignty.

At the same time, both commissioners cautioned against replacing dependence on Russian energy with a new reliance on China, particularly in critical raw materials and technologies needed for the green transition.

EU officials stressed that achieving greater energy independence will take decades rather than years. Nevertheless, they see it as essential to Europe’s long-term security, competitiveness and defense capabilities.

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