Energy consumption is linked direct to economic activity. According to Eurostat the most significant drop in European energy consumption – 5.8% – occurred in 2009 and is attributed by the agency “to a lower level of economic activity as a result of the global financial and economic crisis”, although in general the consumption of energy continues to grow […]
A key factor in current gas policy is the fight for the European gas market, which is becoming increasingly politicized. It is very evident that this market requires substantial re-structuring, linked to the consequences of American sanctions policy and changes in the system of gas transport routes, even if not all the transport options announced […]
German politicians’ faint hopes that the administration of new US president Joe Biden would replace wrath with favour have been dashed by an icy Transatlantic reality. Washington continues to take an intransigent stance and threaten European participants in the project with sanctions. But Berlin is still trying to withstand the pressure and save face, by […]
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to Qatar in February 2026 was more than just a bilateral meeting. It is part of a broader European Union strategy to diversify LNG supplies. Against the backdrop of increasing dependence on American LNG and growing unpredictability in Washington, Berlin and Brussels are trying to make their energy supply more […]
The North Sea is set to become Europe’s energy and protection zone. In Hamburg, nine countries signed a joint agenda: by 2050, 300 gigawatts of offshore wind power are to be generated in the North Sea, much of which will come from cross-border projects. At the same time, new grid regulations and greater security for […]
In 2025, the European Union crossed a historic threshold. For the first time, electricity generated from wind and solar surpassed output from all fossil fuels combined. Renewables accounted for 30 percent of total EU electricity generation, compared to 29 percent from fossil fuels. Within this shift, solar energy is becoming more prominent with each passing […]
As Europe moves deeper into the winter of 2025-2026, the continent’s energy system reflects a transformation shaped by cooperation, investment, and strategic foresight. Technically, electricity and gas supplies are broadly secure across the Union. Economically, markets remain sensitive to global conditions but they are now operating within a framework that is more diversified, more connected, […]
For decades, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) has carried a promise that sounds almost mythic: to build a machine on Earth that can safely and controllably reproduce the physics of the Sun at an industrial scale. Hosted in Cadarache in southern France, the project is still the largest fusion experiment ever attempted and remains […]
Venezuela’s recent political upheaval has triggered renewed attention in global energy markets, but oil prices remain muted, with Brent crude trading around $60 per barrel. According to analysts, this muted reaction reflects broader supply conditions rather than a lack of concern about Venezuelan instability. Political Earthquake, Limited Price Reaction The U.S. military’s operation to capture […]
For some time, Azerbaijan has been seen as one of Brussels’ allies in its efforts to diversify energy imports. However, the situation appears to have stalled, with multiple factors converging to limit the participation of Azeri gas in the European energy mix. In this article, we assess the potential of this partnership. The grand plans […]
Europe had grown used to living from winter to winter. Once gas storage facilities were filled and January passed, survival was assured. When Europe finally turned the page on Russian gas in 2023–2024, it felt like a victory—an escape from the worst kind of dependence. But the celebration was short-lived. At that very moment, Europe […]
Europe is facing new challenges in the energy sector that are fundamentally reshaping its strategy. The pivotal decision to abandon energy supplies from Russia opens the door to a deeper transatlantic partnership. The US is emerging as a confident leader in liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply and is ready to provide reliable, long-term exports. For […]
This November, COP30 convened in Belém, Brazil — marking a historic milestone as the first COP summit to place artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven technologies at the heart of its agenda. While traditional disputes, such as those surrounding fossil fuel use, once again stalled negotiations over the final political agreement, AI emerged as a rare […]
The EU has decided to expand its list of sanctioned goods and add a ban on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports from Russia to the already extensive list of foreign trade restrictions. Although Russia’s share of supplies is small, the ban could nevertheless be a destabilising factor for a number of sectors of the European economy.
