Parliament's proposals to boost energy security and resilience in the EU

Investing in domestic energy sources and partnerships with reliable energy suppliers and infrastructure to ensure a resilient and integrated energy market

Calls for definite phasing out of Russian energy imports in natural gas and oil by 2027 at the latest and diversifying energy sources

Enhancing protection of critical energy infrastructure against the impacts of climate change, as well as cyber, hybrid and military threats

MEPs set out their blueprint on the future of the EU energy security, advocating for a resilient, integrated and sustainable energy strategy.

The report, adopted in plenary session on Tuesday with 459 votes to 170, with 30 abstentions, stresses the need for a comprehensive approach to energy security, taking into account physical infrastructure, supply availability, reliability, stability, affordability, and sustainability. It highlights that energy security is a cross-sectoral issue indispensable for economic stability, public safety, and national resilience.

The text underscores the necessity to revise the understanding of energy security, emphasising the resilience of energy systems as a strategic imperative. It calls for a reduction in dependency on external energy sources to mitigate vulnerabilities to supply disruptions and geopolitical risks.

MEPs stress the importance of developing domestic clean sources of energy and enhancing energy efficiency to reduce reliance on external suppliers. They note the substantial growth in renewable energy production within the EU and advocate for further encouragement and investment in renewable energy to bolster energy autonomy and security.

The text emphasises the need for well-functioning and integrated energy markets, energy efficiency, and resilient infrastructure to manage the intermittency of renewable energy sources successfully. It highlights the importance of investing in new energy networks and optimising existing infrastructure to increase capacity and ensure a resilient and sustainable energy system across the EU. MEPs also say that capacity remuneration mechanisms play a structural role in securing energy back-up during peak times or periods of supply shortages, and call for the simplification of their approval processes, as requested by the recent revision of the electricity market design legislation.

Phasing out Russian imports, supporting Ukraine

MEPs express deep concern that the EU still maintains its reliance on Russian gas, which has recently seen an increase, fuelling Russia's war machine. The resolution calls for an EU ban on all Russian fossil fuels imports by 2027 at the latest, and for the diversification of energy sources to mitigate the risks associated with over-reliance on any single supplier.

The report emphasises the importance of supporting Ukraine in maintaining its energy infrastructure amidst the ongoing war of aggression. It highlights the broader implications for EU energy security and the need for a collective and coordinated response.

Protection against threats

MEPs underscore the need to protect critical energy infrastructure against threats, including cyber, hybrid and military attacks. They advocate for security measures and the establishment of mandatory risk assessments for small distributed energy resources (DERs) to safeguard the EU's energy systems.

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"Ensuring the security of energy supply remains a critical challenge for the European Union, particularly in light of Russia’s long-term weaponisation of energy, its war of aggression against Ukraine, the resulting geopolitical shifts, and the urgent need to diversify our energy sources while investing in domestic production" said lead MEP Beata Szydło (ECR, Poland).

"In this report, we have sought to strike a balance between the political and economic realities we face and the EU’s ambitious goals for the energy transition. We have upheld Member States’ sovereignty over their energy mix and emphasized the principle of technological neutrality—including the role of nuclear energy and the transitional use of natural gas—while reinforcing strong references to renewables and energy efficiency" she added.

Background

Energy security is a fundamental component for a resilient and sustainable economy, ensuring reliable and affordable energy supplies crucial for economic growth and societal well-being. Despite its potential for developing domestic clean and renewable energy sources, the EU imports over 60% of its energy, including 90% of its gas and 97% of its oil, leaving it vulnerable to supply disruptions and external pressures.

Since the EU's last Energy Security Strategy in 2014, there has been substantial growth in homegrown renewable energy, with wind power increasing by 98%, solar PV by 314%, and other renewable sources also seeing significant rises. However, the EU's domestic fossil fuel production has declined, as well as coal, oil, and gas production.