European Union Energy Policy at a Time of Crisis

Szerző: Szabo John

In: Publications Europa (ed.): European Union encyclopedia and directory 2026. London: Routledge, 2025. pp. 209-213.

ISSN: 9781003632382

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003632382

Absztrakt

Confronted with mounting issues, including a worsening climate crisis, trade wars and escalating military conflicts, European policymakers are being forced to design energy policy tools that ensure access to fossil fuels and enable the emergence of a system dominated by renewable energy. Action on the latter is especially pressing, as the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts has indicated that June 2025 is likely to rank among the top five warmest Junes on record, and the World Meteorological Organization confirmed in January that 2024 was the warmest year on record. In parallel, there is a rising consensus that while fossil fuels are indispensable in the short to medium term, the quicker the European Union (EU) can pivot to renewables and, possibly, nuclear power, the quicker it will be able to ensure energy security for consumers. The EU has taken action to facilitate the energy transition, but it has balanced this with measures aimed at short-term objectives that ensure access to fossil fuels. This essay provides an overview of the EU’s energy policy between mid-2024 and mid-2025, highlighting the challenges that have emerged.