Since the launch of the European Green Deal in December 2019, the EU has had to deal with a succession of crises in addition to the climate emergency: Covid-19, war in Ukraine, inflation. It also has to respond to the US IRA plan and deal with its dependence on strategic Chinese materials. In four years, however, the EU has been very active in achieving climate neutrality: adoption of the Fitfor55 package, contribution to green investment with the recovery plan, launch of REPowerEU and discussions on the EU’s clean technology industrial policy.
However, the EU faces growing geopolitical, economic, social and political challenges that threaten the achievement of the Energy Union’s goals of achieving climate neutrality while preserving its energy security and ensuring affordable energy prices. The EU already has an excellent foundation in terms of energy and climate policy, but its instruments are still too national, too temporary, insufficiently binding and do not contribute enough to achieving the EU’s objectives.
So how can these issues be addressed? How can solidarity and coordination be maintained at European level? With what funding and what governance? And how can the contributions and concerns of Europe’s citizens be taken into account?

We are delighted to welcome Camille Defard, Head of the Energy Centre at the Jacques Delors Institute, who will be presenting her report and recommendations.