European Union energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen warned that the bloc faces a challenging winter with very high oil and gas prices driven by international conflicts, though he stopped short of forecasting supply security issues.
Soaring Import Costs Drive Urgency for Reform
European countries have paid approximately €100 billion extra for energy this year without receiving a single additional molecule of gas or oil, according to Jørgensen. He told the gathering in Dublin that this financial burden exposes the fundamental unsustainability of Europe’s reliance on external energy suppliers. While the bloc has successfully reduced its historical dependence on Russian supplies, global market shocks continue to transmit price spikes directly to domestic consumers and industrial sectors.
“We used to be dependent on Russia, but thankfully we are now getting out of that,” Jørgensen said. “Nonetheless, it is still the case that when prices go up on the global market, it hurts our citizens and it hurts our industries.” To mitigate these market pressures, the European Commission proposed a one-year delay to upcoming regulatory rules designed to curb methane emissions.
Electrification Action Plan Targets Structural Vulnerabilities
To break the cycle of fossil fuel vulnerability, Jørgensen emphasized a permanent shift toward homegrown renewable energy and electrification. The commissioner introduced an EU electrification action plan earlier in the year alongside ongoing negotiations for a new grid package. These legislative efforts aim to interconnect member states efficiently, lowering the cost and accelerating the continent’s green transition.
“For me, the conclusion is very clear,” Jørgensen added. “We need to get out of that dependency. We need to replace the imported, polluting, expensive molecules that are fossil fuels with homegrown energy and green electrons.”
Winter Outlook and Market Pressures
While wholesale electricity and gas markets remain volatile amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East—specifically involving the United States and Iran—the European Commission maintains that physical storage levels and supply lines remain adequate for the upcoming heating season.