European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU’s expenditure on imported fossil fuels has surged by over 25 billion euros due to the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Iran. She emphasized the urgent need to enhance domestic energy sources, particularly renewables and nuclear power, to mitigate vulnerability to future crises.
This statement came after an informal gathering of EU leaders in Cyprus, as reported by a correspondent from Suspilne. Von der Leyen noted that these increased costs occurred despite EU countries not receiving any additional energy supplies.
“We need to develop our own accessible and clean energy sources, including all forms of renewable energy and, of course, nuclear energy as a base load,” von der Leyen stated.
Additionally, the Commission President initiated discussions regarding the mutual defense clause outlined in Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty. She highlighted the necessity of clearly defining the mechanisms for supporting member states in times of need, pointing out that the current treaty lacks specificity on who should act and when.
Von der Leyen also addressed the “gray zone” that exists prior to invoking mutual defense provisions, which includes periods of hybrid warfare, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns. She stressed that this time should be utilized to prevent escalation and to de-escalate conflicts.
“We are only at the beginning of this journey, but we are already working to complete the picture,” von der Leyen concluded.
Ursula von der Leyen has called for increased investment in renewable energy sources as the EU faces rising costs for imported fossil fuels. She also initiated discussions on mutual defense mechanisms within the EU amid ongoing security challenges.