JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS EU external energy engagement in a changing world
Date: 2022-05-18
Institutions: Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission
Subjects: EU energy policy, climate change, energy cooperation, energy efficiency, energy supply, energy transition, green economy, hydrogen, renewable energy, security of supply

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION HIGH REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY Brussels, 18.5.2022  JOIN(2022) 23 final  JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS EU external energy engagement in a changing world {SWD(2022) 152 final}  
 
 
1.  Introduction 

The European Union and the world are facing the existential threat of climate change and a 
burgeoning energy crisis. If we do not accelerate the fight against climate change and combat 
biodiversity loss, the targets agreed in Paris will be out of reach and with that, the possibility to 
avoid  a  full-blown  climate  crisis  with  devastating  consequences  for  the  people  and  the 
environment across the globe.  

The sixth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report concludes that global greenhouse 
gas  emissions must be reduced by 43% by 2030 to  remain on track for  meeting the  goal  of 
limiting global warming to 1.5 ºC. As the energy sector is central to delivering greenhouse 
gas emission reductions, it will be at the heart of this transition.  

At  the  same  time,  Russia  has  flouted  international  rules  through  its  unprovoked  and 
unjustified  war  of  aggression  against  Ukraine.  It  has  upended  energy  and  food  markets, 
triggering heightened price volatility and energy insecurity, impacting not only its immediate 
neighbourhood, but the entire world. This requires a response that addresses both the short-term 
needs and the long-term implications of the EU and its partners. The EU stands in full solidarity 
with Ukraine and continues to support its energy system.  

The green energy transition is the only way to simultaneously ensure sustainable, secure, 
and affordable energy worldwide. The EU is thus determined to stay the course and engage 
with partners across the globe to encourage partner countries to enhance their climate ambition 
and define their pathways to climate neutrality, but also to establish long-term relationships that 
are mutually beneficial, in particular in the area of energy.  

The  EU  will  continue  and  step  up  its  engagement  around  the  world  through  dedicated 
partnerships. This can be done by financial support, assistance, technology transfers, and/or 
enhanced trade relationships.  

There is also a European need to embark on this course. Despite the diversification and internal 
energy security measures taken since the 2009 gas crisis, Europe is still too dependent on a 
supplier who is willing to use energy as a weapon. To overcome this vulnerability, the European 
Commission  presented  on  8  March  2022  a  REPowerEU  communication,  providing  a 
blueprint to put an end to the imports of fossil energy from Russia well before 2030. This 
requires  diversifying  the  EU  energy  supply,  increasing  energy  savings  and  efficiency  and 
accelerating the green energy transition.  

All this responds to the challenges of a  fast-changing world and energy landscape. In the 
coming years and decades, new opportunities for producing energy will emerge, together with 
new trade patterns and transport needs. While trade in conventional energy commodities will 
gradually decline, new commodities such as hydrogen and ammonia  will begin to be traded 
internationally  and  demand  for  low  emission  technologies  will  grow.  New  standards  and 
governance  arrangements  will  be  required  to  build  more  reliable  and  mutually  beneficial 
partnerships through a rules-based approach. 

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The European Union must be ready to act in and shape this new, changing environment. There 
will be new opportunities for Europe to build on its green technological leadership, and to 
promote a more just and sustainable development across the world, but also new challenges for 
its energy security and the resilience of its supply chains, in particular the critical raw materials, 
which are key for the energy transition.  

Similarly,  the  crisis  is  an  opportunity  for  many  countries  to  leap-frog  carbon-intensive 
development and benefit from a greener, more equal economy that provides energy access to 
millions  of  people.  In  line  with  SDG  7  the  EU  will  work  to  ensure  a  just  and  inclusive 
energy transition. The European Commission and the High Representative will partner and 
support those embarking on the green transition, facilitating long-term sustainable investment, 
including through the Global Gateway, which is the European Union's plan and value-based 
proposition for major investment in infrastructure development around the world. 

All these aspects require the EU to update its external energy strategy, more than ten years after 
the adoption of the previous one, reinforcing its engagement with partners and strengthening its 
climate  and  energy  diplomacy,  in  line  with  the  Foreign  Affairs  Council  Conclusions  of  25 
January 2021.  

To achieve this, the EU external energy policy will aim to: 

  strengthen  its  energy  security,  resilience  and  open  strategic  autonomy  by 
diversifying the EU’s energy supply and boosting energy savings and efficiency; 
  accelerate the global green and just energy transition to ensure sustainable, secure 

and affordable energy for the EU and the world; 

  support Ukraine and other countries that are directly or indirectly affected by the 

Russian aggression; 

  build  long-lasting  international  partnerships  and  promote  the  EU  clean  energy 

industries across the globe. 

2.  An EU external energy policy for REPowerEU 

As  set  out  in  the  18  May  2022  REPowerEU  plan  published  in  parallel  with  this  strategy, 
Europe’s energy system will increase its efficiency and move to green energy sources at a faster 
pace than expected before the start of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. While the green 
energy transition is at the heart of the EU’s drive for energy independence, moving away 
from  Russian  fossil  fuels  will  require  replacing  some  of  them  with  fossil  fuels  from  other 
international  suppliers,  considering  that  the  EU’s  domestic  oil  and  gas  production  is  much 
diminished: we import 90% of our gas consumption, 97% of our oil and 70% of our coal needs. 
As the EU’s  gas  demand will contract  at  a faster pace than  earlier expected and in  order to 
minimise  the  risk  of  stranded  investments  and  assets,  the  EU  will  favour  diversification 
strategies that encompass both gas and green hydrogen investments. 

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2.1. Diversifying the EU’s gas supply 

Today,  Russia  is  Europe’s  largest  gas  supplier.1  The  REPowerEU  plan  aims  to  end  our 
dependence on Russian gas as soon as possible. Most of this gas demand will be substituted 
with  renewables,  low  carbon  energy  sources,  energy  efficiency  and  savings.  The  remaining 
need for natural gas will be covered by diversifying suppliers.  

To  provide  the  gas  supplies  needed  over  the  coming  years,  the  EU  must  increase  its  gas 
imports from non-Russian sources: mostly of liquefied natural gas (LNG) (+50 billion cubic 
meters (bcm)), but also pipeline gas (+10 bcm or more). To this end, the EU has launched the 
EU  Energy  Platform  –  to  pool  demand,  coordinate  infrastructure  use  and  negotiate  with 
international  partners  to  facilitate  joint  gas  and  hydrogen  purchases,  as  laid  out  in  the 
REPowerEU Chapeau Communication. 

This builds on the work done by the European Commission since last autumn, reaching out to 
our  main  LNG  and  pipeline  gas  suppliers.  These  efforts  have  resulted  in  record  monthly 
LNG deliveries of 12.5 bcm in April 2022 and 42 bcm from January to April 2022. The Platform 
will integrate ongoing diversification efforts by EU Member States and  be open to Ukraine, 
Moldova and Georgia, as well as the Western Balkans.  

To facilitate the diversification efforts, the European Commission and the US have agreed2 
to work for the delivery of additional LNG to the EU (at least 15 bcm in 2022 and approximately 
50 bcm annually until at least 2030), through US exports but also in cooperation with other 
international partners. The Commission has also established a dedicated working group with 
Canada to look at possible LNG and hydrogen deliveries in the coming years.3 

Before this summer, the EU aims to conclude a trilateral agreement with Egypt and Israel 
on supplying Europe with LNG. Japan and Korea have already redirected a number of LNG 
cargoes to Europe and work continues to use this option in the future. Qatar stands ready to 
facilitate swaps with Asian countries. In terms of pipeline gas, Norway has already increased 
its deliveries to Europe and both Algeria and Azerbaijan have expressed their willingness to 
do so as well. The EU will aim to restart the energy dialogue with Algeria and will intensify 
cooperation  with  Azerbaijan  in  the  light  of  the  strategic  importance  of  the  Southern  Gas 
Corridor. Scaling up the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) capacity would increase the gas supply 
to the EU and the Western Balkan countries. 

Countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and in particular in Western Africa such as Nigeria (already 
supplying 15% of EU 2021 imports), Senegal, and Angola also offer untapped LNG potential. 
A full and effective implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action would facilitate 
a dedicated reflection on the potential for Iran to become a reliable gas supplier to Europe.  

1 In 2021, more than 40% of the EU’s overall gas consumption came from Russia: this equals around 155 billion cubic metres 
(bcm) of which 15 bcm is in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG). 
2 Joint Statement between the European Commission and the United States on European Energy Security 
3 Joint Statement by President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Trudeau 

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The EU will aim to ensure that additional gas supplies from existing and new gas suppliers are 
coupled with targeted actions to tackle methane leaks and to address venting and flaring, 
creating additional liquidity on global markets, while ensuring significant climate benefits. To 
that end, the EU will cooperate with its fossil fuel supply partners to reduce methane emissions. 
At least 46 bcm of natural gas is lost4 a year to venting and flaring in the countries that could 
be supplying this to the EU. The technology exists to capture most of this methane (the main 
component of natural gas) in a sustainable and economical way. The EU stands ready to provide 
technical  assistance  to  partners  to  set  up  such  mutually  beneficial  “You  collect/we  buy” 
schemes. 

The EU will also convene partners such as the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European 
Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the World Bank to create incentives 
for the rapid collection of wasted fossil gases, including methane, bundling those losses into 
meaningful products that can be sold to international buyers.  

The EU’s diversification effort takes place against the backdrop of growing global demand and 
high prices of LNG. These actions must take into account the interests of global partners.  

Considering the medium-term evolution of the energy mix in the EU and in partner countries, 
the EU will promote broader energy  partnerships, combining gas cooperation with long-
term energy cooperation on hydrogen, renewable gases (including biomethane) and other green 
energy sources to avoid stranded assets and ensure the green transition.  

EU energy policy will also aim to ensure open, flexible, liquid and well-functioning global LNG 
markets, engaging both with the major producer (US, Australia, Qatar, Nigeria, Egypt etc.) and 
consumer (China, Japan, Korea) countries. G7, G20, International Energy Agency (IEA) and 
other international fora provide opportunities for that. 

Key actions 

 

ensure  the  rapid  operationalisation  of  the  EU  Energy  Platform  and  its  regional 
platforms; 
fully implement the Joint Statements with the US and Canada;  

 
  negotiate political commitments with existing or new gas suppliers to increase gas 

deliveries to Europe; 
set up ‘You collect/we buy’ natural gas and methane capture and trade schemes. 

 

2.2. Preparing the EU for renewable hydrogen trade 

The REPowerEU plan sets out that an additional 15 million tonnes (mt) of renewable hydrogen 
– on top of the 5.6 mt already planned under the Fit for 55 initiative – can replace approximately 
27 bcm of imported Russian gas by 2030. This includes 10 mt of imported hydrogen. 

The capacity to produce renewable hydrogen is much more evenly distributed across the world 
than oil and gas reserves given global wind and solar resources. However, this market has yet 

4 46 bcm/a is the baseline IEA estimate based on best practice assumptions. 

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to be developed and requires, globally, a significant expansion of renewable production and the 
availability of water. 

In  order  to  facilitate  imports  of  10  million  tonnes  of  hydrogen  into  the  EU,  the  European 
Commission aims to conclude hydrogen partnerships with reliable partner countries to ensure 
open  and  undistorted  trade  and  investment  relations  for  renewable  and  low  carbon  fuels.  It 
envisages three major hydrogen import corridors from the North Sea region (Norway and 
UK), the Southern Mediterranean and Ukraine, as soon as conditions allow. 

International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA): Technical potential for producing green hydrogen under USD 1.5/kg by 
2050, in EJ 

A  region  with  a  particularly  high  potential  to  generate  renewable  hydrogen  is  the  southern 
Mediterranean. To create win-win opportunities for both the region and the EU, the European 
Commission is working on a Mediterranean Green Hydrogen Partnership between the EU and 
countries in the southern Mediterranean. This work builds upon the existing new Agenda for 
the  Mediterranean  and  its  Economic  and  Investment  Plan  and  will  start  with  the  EU-Egypt 
Hydrogen Partnership. This would be the first stepping stone for broader renewable hydrogen 
cooperation  between  Europe,  Africa  and  the  Gulf,  another  area  of  abundant  resources  for 
producing hydrogen.  

When implemented with local social, economic and environmental needs in mind, cooperation 
in  this  field  would  promote  local  production  and  consumption  of  renewable  electricity  and 
renewable hydrogen and the development of green industry value chains in partner countries. 
The EU’s regulatory framework for hydrogen should ensure a level playing field for imported 
and domestically produced hydrogen. 

In Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa and Namibia are already advancing in developing their 
renewable  hydrogen  sector  and  have  attracted  the  interest  of  EU  industry.  Enhanced 
cooperation on renewable hydrogen is also part of the EU’s bilateral engagement with countries 

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like  Egypt  and  Morocco,  where  the  European  Commission  has  launched  work  on  an  EU-
Morocco Green Partnership. 

Work  is  also  on-going  on  a  strategic  partnership  with  Ukraine  on  renewable  gases, 
including hydrogen and biomethane, with a view to scale it up significantly once the conditions 
allow. 

In our immediate neighbourhood, the EU stands ready to support network development through 
the reviewed Trans-European Networks for Energy Regulation (TEN-E)5. Projects with non-
EU countries that contribute significantly to the TEN-E objectives can get the status of Projects 
of  Mutual  Interest,  a  label  indicating  joint  projects  in  electricity  transmission,  hydrogen 
transport and CO2 network and storage facilities that meet exacting EU safety standards. In 
parallel, investments will be necessary to ensure the shipping capacity and logistics to transport 
this commodity. 

The  nascent  global  hydrogen  market  must  be  based  on  common  rules,  in  particular  for 
standards, certification and good regulatory practice, in terms of infrastructure access and trade. 
The EU regulatory framework for hydrogen is the most advanced worldwide. Based on this 
experience, the EU  should  lead efforts  for developing  a solid framework for  a  global  rules-
based and transparent hydrogen market. This process should take into account lessons learned 
in gas and oil markets so that these new energy goods can flow freely across borders, thereby 
strengthening  our  energy  security  as  we  transition  away  from  fossil  fuels.To  kick-start  the 
global renewable hydrogen market, the EU considers the development of a Global European 
Hydrogen Facility, as reflected in the REPowerEU Chapeau Communication. 

Key actions: 

  conclude hydrogen partnerships, notably in the EU’s neighbourhood and Africa, 
to  facilitate  the  import  of  10  million  tonnes  of  hydrogen  by  2030  and  the 
development of local hydrogen markets; 

  sign a Memorandum of Cooperation on Hydrogen with Japan by the end of 2022; 
  promote  a  global  rules-based  and  transparent  hydrogen  market  based  on  EU’s 

 

experience;  
initiate the first trading hubs for renewable hydrogen in Europe and establishing 
it as the benchmark for Euro denominated transactions in hydrogen; 
  establisha Strategic Partnership with Ukraine on renewable gases in 2022;  
  develop a Global European Hydrogen Facility. 

2.3. Reducing dependency on Russian energy imports other than gas 

Shipping  8  million  barrels  daily,  Russia  is  the  world’s  largest  oil  exporter.  Its  invasion  of 
Ukraine  has  therefore  created  turmoil  and  uncertainty  on  the  global  oil  market,  with  prices 
occasionally coming close to the all-time high of USD 150 per barrel.  

5 Trans-European Networks for Energy Regulation 

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As a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, market volatility and tightness is likely to continue 
and  impacts  not  only  the  EU,  but  all  oil  consumers  across  the  world,  especially  the  most 
vulnerable. The EU is working with its international partners to ensure that sufficient oil 
supplies remain available globally and at affordable prices. Together with the G7 group of 
energy ministers, the EU calls for oil-producing countries to look into increasing deliveries to 
the global market using to the full the available spare capacity.  

In  this  context,  the  full  and  effective  implementation  of  the  Joint  Comprehensive  Plan  of 
Action would facilitate the entry of available Iranian oil supplies into the market easing supply 
pressure and price volatility. The Communication on the Strategic Partnership with the Gulf, 
published  in  parallel  with  this  strategy,  lays  out  the  EU’s  approach  to  strengthening  its 
relationship with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries rich in oil resources. 

At the same time, IEA members have unanimously agreed to draw on emergency stocks to 
release  120  million  barrels,  the  largest  stock  release  in  IEA  history.  This  has  shown  the 
importance  of  emergency  stocks  as  a  shock  absorber.  While  the  decisions  on  the  release  of 
stocks  are  a  Member  State  competence,  the  experience  with  the  IEA  collective  process 
demonstrates the usefulness of the EU taking a coordination role, should additional releases 
become necessary.  

The EU decided to stop all imports of coal from Russia, as part of its fifth sanctions package in 
April 2022. To cope with the crisis in the short term, this means replacing 44 to 56 million 
tonnes of coal annually, largely by importing. In the longer term, coal will be phased out in the 
EU, in most countries by 2030. With the adoption of the EU embargo on Russian coal, prices 
in the EU increased around 15% to EUR 325 per tonne, but major difficulties with the coal 
supply are not expected with end of April prices returning to pre-embargo level. 

Diversification of fuel supplies for nuclear power plants is an important strand of work as 
some EU Member States are still fully dependent on Russian nuclear fuel. The EU will assist 
nuclear utilities in expediting the licensing process of alternative fuel for the Russian design 
VVER reactors6 and work with international nuclear organisations such as International Atomic 
Energy  Agency  (IAEA)  and  Nuclear  Energy  Agency  (NEA)  under  the  Organisation  for 
Economic  Co-operation  and  Development  (OECD)  to  build  up  cooperation  in  the  area  of 
security of supply. Work with partners such as Canada is already ongoing.  

Key actions:  

  work with G7, G20 and other international fora as well as bilaterally with relevant 

countries to ensure well supplied and well-functioning oil markets; 

  continue the dialogue with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries 

(OPEC) to ensure stability and affordability on the oil market; 

  coordinate the EU response to the pressure on oil markets, including potential oil 
stock releases as part of IEA joint action or EU’s reaction to supply disruptions; 

6 The Russian abbreviation VVER stands for “water-water energetic reactor”. 

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  accelerate the diversification of fuel supply for nuclear power plants, including in 

cooperation with EURATOM7.  

2.4. Prioritising energy savings and efficiency  

As  the  EU  moves  away  from  Russian  energy  supply,  it  will  prioritise  energy  savings  and 
efficiency, aiming to achieve a 5% reduction in oil and gas demand in the short term. This will 
decrease the price and demand pressure on the global markets. The  EU will also work with 
international partners to make energy savings and efficiency a global priority. Together with 
other developed economies, the EU will in particular focus on reducing energy consumption, 
among other things building on the IEA Playing My Part campaign.  

Energy efficiency has numerous environmental, social and economic benefits. In the IEA’s net 
zero scenario, the global economy grows by 40% by 2030, but uses 7% less primary energy and 
the solutions  for that  are already today technically  ready,  cost-efficient and available for all 
sectors. The highest saving potentials can be realised in the heating and cooling of public and 
private buildings. Additional major energy savings can be gained from more efficient processes, 
the circular economy transition and transport, as well as from more efficient appliances, both 
in homes (such as heat pumps) and industry.  

IEA: Doubling the rate of energy intensity improvements over the next decade helps reduce energy demand by 95 EJ 

The EU has developed regulatory, legislative, standard-setting and labelling experience that 
can be a source of inspiration for many countries. The EU will promote these standards and 
practices  internationally,  while  acknowledging  the  specific  circumstances  of  its  partners. 

7 A new action will be included in the amendment of EURATOM work program 2021-2022 to increase the EU’s security of 
supply through researching alternative fuel sourced from outside of Russia for Russian-designed reactors in the EU and 
Ukraine. 

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Mobilising large capital investments from both the public and the private sector is also crucial. 
The EU best  practices on energy  efficiency  financing  can be shared  and scaled up, in  close 
cooperation with the financial institutions and international partners. 

The case of stopping methane leakages shows that energy saving measures can come at negative 
abatement costs: up to 70% of methane emissions from oil, gas and coal sectors can be stopped 
using today’s technology, and almost half of them at a profit or at no cost8.  

The European Commission has already adopted an EU Methane Strategy9 and a legislative 
proposal to tackle methane emissions that have a clear international dimension. Internationally, 
the  EU  established  jointly  with  the  US  the  Global  Methane  Pledge10.  Participant  countries 
commit to reducing their collective methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 
2030.  Over  110  countries  have  already  joined  this  pledge,  representing  about  half  of  global 
man-made methane emissions. 

  Key  actions:work  with  partners  to  make  energy  efficiency  and  savings  a  global 

priority;  

  support  the  global  transition  to  more  circular  economy  to  reduce  energy 

 

 

consumption; 
facilitate  the  availability  of  and  the  access  to  finance  for  energy  efficiency  and 
saving investments; 
implement the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) and the external dimension of the 
EU methane strategy. 

3.  Supporting partners impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine 

The Russian military aggression in all its dimensions is producing alarming systemic, knock-
on effects on the global economy which is already battered by the COVID-19 pandemic and 
climate change, with particularly dramatic impacts on developing countries.  

Recent projections by UNCTAD11 estimate that the global economy will be a full percentage 
point of GDP growth lower than expected due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which is severely 
disrupting already tight food, energy and financial markets.12 Commodity prices are reaching 
record highs: crude oil prices have increased by around 60%, gas and fertilizers have more than 
doubled, and food prices are 34% higher than this time last year. 

Recent United Nations assessments indicate that one third of 1.7 billion people already living 
in poverty are set to be exposed to disruptions in food, energy and finance systems13. As a result, 

8 The IEA estimates “that it is technically possible to avoid around three quarters of today’s methane emissions from global 
oil and gas operations. Even more significantly, around 40% of current methane emissions could be avoided at no net cost”. 
9 EU strategy to reduce methane emissions, COM/2020/663 
10 Global Methane Pledge 
11 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (2022) Trade and Development Report 2021, March update 
12 United Nations - Global impact of war in Ukraine on food, energy and finance systems, April 2022 
13 United Nations - Global Crisis Response Group 

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many  developing  countries  will  lose  further  economic  ground,  while  their  vulnerability  is 
heightened by rising geopolitical tensions and deepening economic uncertainty.  

Acknowledging this impact, the European Union will make use of all existing instruments 
to  continue  supporting  developing  economies,  particularly  in  Africa  and  the  EU’s 
neighbourhood,  to  recover  from  the  COVID-19  pandemic  and  achieve  an  inclusive  and 
sustainable growth, while building economic resilience that is necessary to address these shocks 
and  the  climate  change  crisis.  The  EU’s  efforts  to  support  a  global  just  and  green  energy 
transition, outlined in chapter 4, are central to this work. The EU will monitor and address the 
impact of Russia’s aggression on partners through bilateral and multilateral engagement and 
work towards a united global response.  

3.1. Repowering Ukraine’s energy system and cooperating with close neighbourhood  

Since  the  start  of  Russia’s  military  aggression,  helping  Ukraine  and  other  nations  directly 
affected by the war has been a central part of the EU’s energy policy. The EU work has focused 
on  ensuring  uninterruped  energy  supplies  and  nuclear  safety  in  Ukraine.  The  emergency 
electricity grid synchronisation with Ukraine and Moldova is a major step towards ensuring 
security of supply. The next political priority is to allow for electrcity trade with the EU based 
on gradual increases of tradable capacity. 

Reverse  flows  already  today  allow  to  bring  gas  from  Slovakia  and  Hungary  to  Ukraine. 
Opening  the  EU  platform  for  common  purchases  of  gas,  LNG  and  hydrogen  to  Ukraine, 
Moldova, Georgia and the Western Balkans is as well a clear signal of support. Damaged energy 
equipment  in  Ukraine is  repaired  by chanelling specialised energy  equipment  from  Member 
States to Ukraine via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Items Members States cannot deliver 
are procured via the Energy Support Fund for Ukraine established by the Energy Community.  

To allow for future full integration of Ukraine’s energy market, the EU is providing technical 
support  to  ensure  market  reforms.  The  reforms  will  also  allow  for  better  integration  of 
renewable energy and aligment with the EU’s climate ambition. This work is taking place in 
the  framework  of  the  Association  Agrement,  and  under  the  EU-Ukraine  Strategic 
Partnership. The Energy  Community and the newly  establised  Ukraine  Energy Task  Force 
play an important role in this work.  

Nuclear safety remains a major priority, in particular following Russia’s reckless behaviour 
at the Ukrainian nuclear sites. The EU is fully aligned with the International Atomic Energy 
Agency’s  effort  to  ensure  the  safety  of  Ukrainian  nuclear  facilities  at  all  times.  The  EU 
mobilises  its  European  Instrument  for  International  Nuclear  Safety  Cooperation  to  address 
urgent needs and restore nuclear safety to comply with the international legal framework and 
pursues the long standing support to the Ukrainian regulatory authority. It stands ready to assist 
in the reconstruction of the necessary nuclear safety capacity. 

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Looking to the future, the EU has set out its approach to longer-term reconstruction framework 
in the Ukraine Relief and Reconstruction Communication.14 The EU will work with Ukraine to 
prepare the REPowerUkraine initiative, to ‘rebuild better’ the Ukrainian energy system, with 
the aim to decarbonise Ukraine’s energy sector thus ensuring Ukraine’s energy independence. 
The focus should be on energy efficiency, renewables, renewable hydrogen, biomethane and 
future-proof infrastructure. The EU will support this process both financially and technically.  

With the Western Balkans, the EU will continue supporting the region’s Green Agenda and 
energy  independence,  promoting  reforms  that  take  the  region  forward  on  their  European 
path. The Energy Community, with the support from the European Commission, is working to 
determine the energy and climate targets for 2030. This will send the right investment signals 
and  ensure  political  commitment  to  coal  phase-out  and  energy  transition  in  general. 
Implementation of the key legal acts adopted by the Energy Community in November 2021 
will allow for a better integration of renewables, storage and demand side response.  

The EU will propose to fully integrate the Western Balkans into the EU internal electricity 
market in order to enable the change to renewable energy production and the decarbonisation 
of energy supply in South-East Europe. The progressive introduction of carbon pricing could 
contribute to greater alignment with the EU.  

Key actions:  

  support the repair and reconstruction of energy infrastructure in Ukraine;  
 
 

increase cross-border capacity to enable electricity trading; 
facilitate the reverse flow of gas to Ukraine via the Slovak Republic, Hungary and 
Poland and to Moldova and Ukraine via Romania (Trans Balkan pipeline); 
invite Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and the Western Balkan countries to participate 
in the EU’s voluntary gas purchasing scheme;  

 

  accelerate  the  domestic  reforms  and  energy  flagships  of  the  Economic  and 
Investment Plans for the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership, adjusted to 
the current situation, to speed up renewables’ deployment, ensure a green energy 
transition and help reduce dependency on Russian gas;  
take  advantage  of  the  Energy  Community  framework  to  encourage  ambitious 
energy and climate targets and market reforms, as well as to boost renewables and 
energy efficiency; 
launch the REPowerUkraine initiative to ensure energy supply and rebuilding the 
Ukrainian energy sector after the war.  

 

 

4.  Leading and accelerating the global green and just energy transition 

The green energy transition is crucial for limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, for boosting 
growth, providing opportunities and improving living conditions across the globe, as well as 

14Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European 
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Ukraine relief and reconstruction, COM/2022/233. 

11 

 
 
                                                           
mitigating price and energy security risks. Following the 1.5 degree scenario would mean 2.3% 
more  GDP  growth  until  2030  than  with  business-as-usual  and  85  million  new  energy-
transition related jobs15.  

The EU is committed to leading and speeding up the global green transition and supporting 
its international partners in the process. This includes working together on renewable energy, 
energy  efficiency  and  savings,  on  the  circular  economy,  green  growth,  natural  resource 
protection, critical raw materials, clean technologies and future-proof infrastructure.  

The  European  Commission  and  the  EU  High  Representative  have  launched  the  Global 
Gateway, a new European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and 
transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world, in 
line with the UN’s 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. The Global Gateway – including a 
strong  push  for  the  green  energy  transition  –  will  be  delivered  through  a  Team  Europe 
approach, bringing together the EU and its Member States with their financial and development 
institutions, including the EIB and the EBRD in  order to leverage up to EUR 300 billion of 
investment in 2021-2027. 

The EU supports the global green transition also through its climate finance. 30% of the EU’s 
development aid envelope is channelled into tackling climate change, including in the energy 
sector.  The  EU  is  arguably  the  largest  contributor  to  the  global  commitment  of  the  most 
developed nations to provide annually USD 100 bln for climate finance and will continue to 
engage other partners to follow suit. 

To succeed, the green transition must be just and socially fair. Especially in the context of 
slow recovery, economic turbulence and the global consequences of Russian aggression against 
Ukraine, the social aspects of reshaping the energy systems must be central to the transition. 
This is a priority for the EU and an integral part of our external energy policy. On the one hand, 
it means reducing the social and economic impact of phasing out fossil fuels (in particular coal) 
and on the other, offering new opportunities via green technologies (chapter 4.1), while tackling 
issues like energy access, fossil fuel subsidies, skills development and distributional effects of 
the transition.  

While coal is not the only fossil fuel, it is the most polluting one and responsible for 40% of the 
world’s greenhouse gas emissions. It is therefore at the heart of EU’s just transition efforts that 
focus in particular on the biggest coal-consuming countries.  

In follow-up to COP26, the EU, together with its Member States France and Germany as well 
as its international partners, the US and the UK, is implementing a just transition partnership 
with South Africa with a budget of USD 8.5 billion to accelerate the decarbonisation of the 
economy  with  the  emphasis  on  the  coal  phase-out  and  minimising  the  country’s  social 
adaptation costs. The EU is exploring the possibility to  conclude  just transition partnerships 
with other partners like Vietnam, Indonesia and India. 

15 World Energy Transitions Outlook: 1.5°C Pathway 

12 

 
 
                                                           
In  line  with  China’s  stated  ambitions  to  reduce  its  dependence  on  coal  and  make  progress 
towards its goal to become carbon neutral by 2060, the EU-China Energy Cooperation Platform 
(ECECP)  and  the  annual  high-level  EU-China  Energy  Dialogue  focus  on  carbon  markets, 
energy systems,  renewable  energy,  energy  efficiency  and business  cooperation.  The EU has 
also  established  labour  and  social  policy  dialogues  with  India,  China  and  Southern 
neighbourhood  within  the  Union  for  Mediterranean  Regional  Platform  on  Employment  and 
Labour. The EU also provides support for the phase out of coal in the Western Balkans and 
Ukraine via its ‘Coal Regions in Transition’ initiative. 

Key actions: 

  accelerate  the  global  green  energy  transition  by  facilitating  sustainable 

investments and connectivity through Global Gateway; 

  collaborate on just transition and coal phase-out with the EU partner countries, 

including in the EU’s neighbourhood; 

  work to ensure the global commitment of USD 100 bln annually for climate finance 

 

 

and use the EU contribution to support the green, just transition; 
implement the joint energy transition partnership with South Africa and explore 
the scope to forge other global partnerships along this model; 
implement  the  ‘Coal  Regions  in  Transition’  initiative  in  Ukraine  and  Western 
Balkans; 

  align and implement global initiatives to end fossil fuel subsidies and engage with 

countries heavily reliant on coal-fired power to achieve this;  

  work with IEA, IRENA and ILO to further a just and inclusive transition globally.  

4.1. Promoting renewable technologies and energy efficiency in partner countries 

Electricity based on wind and solar is now the cheapest power option in most regions of the 
world. In a 1.5 degree world, renewables could represent 90% of the global energy production 
by 2050. Global markets will be worth an estimated EUR 24 trillion for renewable energy and 
EUR 33 trillion for energy efficiency up to 205016. This represents a major opportunity for the 
world’s economy.  

The rise of renewable energy will change the dynamics of the global energy system. While 
hydrocarbon resources were concentrated in a few countries, every nation has the potential to 
develop renewables and participate in energy trade. Today, around 80% of the world population 
lives in countries that are net energy importers. This is set to change. 

The EU, which represents  9% of global emissions, has a  strong interest in prompting the 
uptake  of  renewable  energy  and  improving  energy  efficiency  across  the  world.  To 
accelerate the roll-out of photovoltaics, the European Commission is publishing a European 
Solar Strategy17 together with the present strategy. 

16 IRENA, Global energy transformation: a roadmap to 2050, 2019 
17 European Solar Strategy, COM/2022/221 

13 

 
 
                                                           
The efficient roll-out of renewable energy sources and increasing energy efficiency requires a 
wider ‘system approach’ that factors in electricity production, transmission and consumption 
as a whole. Installing renewable energy capacity is most effective where it is integrated into 
open and flexible regional markets. The EU has been a first mover in creating a large integrated 
energy market and our experience can help international partners to accelerate their transition. 

Many countries in the Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership and Southern Neighbourhood are 
gradually  increasing  the  use  of  renewable  energy  in  their  region.  Countries  like  India  and 
Morocco  have  already  set  themselves  ambitious  targets  for  renewables  deployment, 
implemented  and  further  strengthened  under  the  EU-India  Clean  Energy  and  Climate 
Partnership  and  the  EU-Morocco-Green-Partnership.  Similar  work  is  ongoing  in  our 
partnership with China (including on Emissions Trading Systems based on the EU system).  

Fair  and  reciprocal  energy  cooperation  with  Africa  is  an  important  priority,  both  to  ensure 
energy access to 570 million people currently without electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, but also 
to support investments in sustainable energy systems and renewable hydrogen trade, once local 
needs  are  covered.  By  2030,  the  African  Green  Energy  Initiative  aims  to  support  the 
deployment of at least 50 GW of renewable electricity, providing at least 100 million people 
with electricity access. In order to achieve this goal, leveraging private sector investments will 
be key.  

Under the Global Gateway initiative, the EU will mobilise EUR 2.4 billion in grants for 
sub-Saharan Africa and EUR  1.08 billion for North Africa to support renewable energy, 
energy  efficiency,  the  just  transition  and  the  greening  of  local  value  chains.  This  will  also 
support the African Union Green Recovery Action Plan which seeks to increase the renewable 
energy generation capacity by at least an additional 300 GW by 2030. 

The acceleration of renewables uptake worldwide also presents an opportunity to strengthen 
trade  relations.  To  develop  their  home-grown  renewables  potential,  most  countries  in  the 
world require access to innovative technologies, knowledge and capital and the EU green tech 
industry is well positioned to be a partner in those efforts. Half of the world’s wind power comes 
from turbines manufactured in Europe. EU companies are leaders in important segments of the 
photovoltaic,  hydrogen  and  heat  pump  industries  and  are  catching  up  with  Asia  on  battery 
technologies, thanks to the European Battery Alliance. 

In order to thrive and to grow further, the green tech industry needs to be able to rely on a stable 
regulatory framework, fair competition, sufficient investments, and a fiscal level playing 
field – this is  equally important  and beneficial  for the EU and local  actors.  External  energy 
policy must work hand in hand with the EU industrial and trade policy, ensuring market access 
for our industry  and addressing challenges  via the  Free Trade Agreements and  enforcement 
action. 

Developing business to business relations requires constant attention: the business networking 
events organised under the EU and US Energy Council, most recently on offshore wind, is a 

14 

 
 
model to be replicated. Across Asia (for example in the Republic of Korea and Taiwan) have 
been set up to offer new business opportunities to EU green tech companies.  

De-risking and credit export instruments are also key to enable entry into new markets. The EU 
clean tech companies increasingly compete with foreign companies that receive direct financial 
support  from  their  governments.  The  Commission  will  develop  an  EU  strategy  for  export 
credits  benefitting  green  tech  companies  to  improve  the  level  playing  field  for  the  EU 
businesses in non-EU country markets. The Commission is also seeking to amend OECD rules 
to provide further incentive for export credit support for climate-friendly technologies. 

Key actions:  

  accelerate  the  roll-out  of  renewables  and  energy  efficiency  across  the  world, 
including in Western Balkans, Africa, the Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific; 
implement the mutually beneficial EU-Africa-Green Energy Initiative; 

 
  support  the  green  transition  in  Central  Asia  through  a  Regional  Team  Europe 

 

Initiative on environment/energy/water; 
increase  the  roll-out  of  renewable  energy  in  cities  and  rural  municipalities,  for 
example through the Urban Transition mission of Mission Innovation; 

  advance  clean  technologies  in  the  context  of  the  Trade  and  Technology  Council 

(TTC) with the US; 

  develop an EU export credit strategy. 

4.2. Cooperating on research and technology  

Many of the technologies needed to achieve full decarbonisation of the global economy are not 
yet mature or competitive with fossil fuel based heat and power. International cooperation is 
essential to increase the speed of  green energy innovation and roll-out, while lowering their 
cost,  in  particular  for  renewable  energy  and  hydrogen.  Other  key  research  areas  for  an 
innovation-driven  transition  include  the  development  of  smart,  cyber  secure  and  flexible 
power  grids,  long-duration  energy  storage,  sustainable  raw  materials,  small  modular 
reactors and sustainable fuels for industry and transport.  

Since renewable energy and hydrogen will not be able to substitute all fossil fuels in the energy 
mix, carbon removals will also be needed, in particular in industrial sectors where electrification 
or hydrogen-based options are not cost-effective. The EU will cooperate with its neighbours 
and other countries to bring to global markets innovative zero-consumption energy efficiency 
solutions, as well as technologies such as carbon-capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) . 

The EU will continue supporting international cooperation and multilateral initiatives in line 
with its global approach to research and innovation18. The Commission will provide resources 
for international cooperation from Horizon Europe, the EU’s public financing programme for 
research  and  innovation.  The  EU  will  also  reinforce  engagement  with  major  international 

18 Communication on the Global Approach to Research and Innovation, COM/2021/252 final 

15 

 
 
                                                           
initiatives, like Mission Innovation and the Clean Energy Ministerial, to develop together the 
green energy solutions of the future.  

Key actions: 

  develop CO2 sequestration and storage techniques to market maturity, including 

in cooperation with Norway; 

  continue  the  Long-Term  Joint  EU-African  Union  Research  and  Innovation 
Partnership on Renewable Energy and extending its scope to renewable hydrogen. 

4.3. Ensuring access to critical raw materials 

While the EU is determined to end its dependence on Russian energy, it is equally determined 
to  avoid  new  dependencies  in  the  future.  As  demand  for  fossil  fuels  decreases,  increased 
demand for raw materials, including rare earths and metals could lead to new supply challenges 
in the course of the energy transition. According to the Critical Raw Materials in Technologies 
and Sectors foresight  study, the demand for critical  raw materials  needed in  the low-carbon 
energy sector and their costs will increase significantly by 2050. The EU depends in this sector 
primarily  on  rare  earths,  lithium,  magnesium,  niobium,  germanium,  borates  and  scandium, 
some of which cannot be procured domestically.19  

To  continue  advancing  on  its  energy  transition,  EU  companies  will  need  to  source  these 
materials  in  tight  commodity  markets  or  substitute  them  in  the  longer  term  through  new 
industrial processes. Potential remedies to minimise the EU’s future dependence in this strategic 
area include further diversifying global supply chains, prioritising energy efficiency measures, 
incentivising long-term investments in new mining and refining activities inside the EU as well 
as stepping up circularity efforts to ensure that materials are retained in the economy for as long 
as possible and that waste is recycled.  

The  Commission  will  intensify  work  on  the  supply  of  critical  raw  materials  and  prepare  a 
legislative proposal. This initiative will aim to strengthen the European value chain through the 
identification  of  mineral  resources  and  of  raw  materials  projects  in  the  European  strategic 
interest, while ensuring a high level of environmental protection.20 

The EU has already established Sustainable Raw Material Value Chain Partnerships with 
Canada and Ukraine. To diversify its supply chains further, the Commission is working towards 
establishing  additional  mutually  beneficial  raw  material  value  chain  partnerships  in  Africa 
(e.g. Namibia), Latin America, Western Balkans and with Australia, via trade agreements 
or Memoranda of Understanding.  

At least in the medium term, access to well-diversified supplies from international markets will 
be key to ensure resilience. EU trade policy plays a key role in this regard, by ensuring open 
access to supplies and by avoiding market distortions through development and implementation 

19 Critical Raw Materials in Technologies and Sectors foresight, 2020 
20 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European 
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: REPowerEU Plan, COM/2022/230. 

16 

 
 
                                                           
of trade agreements. The Energy and Raw Materials Chapters on EU Free Trade Agreements 
(FTAs) have a central role in this. 

Key actions: 

  establish  mutually  beneficial  raw  material  value  chain  partnerships,  beyond 

Ukraine and Canada; 

  strengthen cooperation on raw materials value chains with Norway under the 

EU-Norway Green Alliance; 

  reinforce the use of EU economic and trade policy tools to ensure undistorted 

access to international markets; 

  promote  global  resource  efficiency  and  circularity,  notably  through  product 

design measures21; 

  work with international organisations such as the OECD, the IEA and IRENA 

on supply chains for critical raw materials used in the energy transition. 

5.  Laying the foundations of the new global energy system  

5.1. Strengthening established alliances, building new partnerships 

The new global energy system does not mean simply replacing fossil fuels with renewables, it 
will be fundamentally and structurally different from today’s. Collaboration and partnerships 
will be key to how it functions. As the EU strives to make the global green transition a reality, 
it will reach out, listen to and work with the entire world. 

IRENA: Shifts in the value of trade in energy commodities, 2020 to 2050 

The  EU  will  continue  to  work  in  tandem  with  the  US,  with  whom  the  priorities  are  well 
aligned  across  the  full  energy  policy  spectrum.  Through  the  EU-US  Energy  Council  and  in 

21 Overview of EU measures to make sustainable products the norm in the EU 

17 

 
 
 
                                                           
 
international fora, EU will endeavour to affect positive change on the global energy landscape. 
The energy  relationship  with  Canada  has  significantly  accelerated, building on the  existing 
High-Level Energy Dialogue. 

Both the Eastern and the Southern Neighbourhood will continue to be crucial for the EU. 
The energy relations with Eastern Partnership countries will need to be reinforced and reviewed, 
while  remaining  focused  on  sustainable  energy  security  and  the  green  energy  transition, 
following  the  commitments  at  the  6th  Eastern  Partnership  Summit  in  December  2021.  The 
resilience, energy security and green transition of Ukraine, Moldova and Western Balkans 
are  linked  to  the  EU’s  and  therefore  a  central  priority.  Cooperation  with  Turkey  should 
continue on decarbonisation, to ensure alignment of the Turkish legal framework with the EU 
acquis, including through the Turkish Investment Platform.  

In the Southern Neighbourhood, a common Mediterranean energy policy should be developed 
based on the Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial Declaration adopted in June 2021. The 
EU  will  support  regional  cooperation  in  the  Eastern  and  Southern  Mediterranean  region  on 
energy transition and to unleash the renewable energy potential. The EU will continue to pursue 
cooperation on decarbonisation including on methane emissions with all fossil fuel suppliers in 
the region, such as Egypt, Israel and Algeria. 

Africa is a key partner for the EU. In addition to the cooperation policy objectives, stronger 
trade and investment engagement with African countries is expected as they are increasingly 
becoming  fast  growing  markets  for  green  energy  technologies.  African  countries  can  also 
contribute to the EU’s energy security, today with oil and LNG supplies, and in future through 
green  hydrogen  and  renewable  fuels  as  well  as  raw  materials  critical  to  the  green  energy 
transition.  

The EU will continue to work with partners like  Norway, Japan, Australia, Chile, United 
Kingdom and others on energy transition and mutually relevant priorities. The EU is currently 
negotiating  a  FTA  with  Australia.  As  a  significant  future  producer  of  green  hydrogen, 
strengthening  energy  links  should  be  a  priority.  Chile  is  also  expected  to  become  a  large 
producer of green hydrogen in the future, as well as supplying critical raw materials such as 
lithium. 

As part of the EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership, the EU will intensify its 
energy cooperation with India in support of accelerating the local roll-out of renewables and 
the rapid decarbonisation of its industry. The EU will support joint activities in the areas of 
offshore wind and solar energy and their integration through smart grids.  

The EU is continuing to further work with China on de-carbonisation, power market reform 
and  to  render  the  energy  system  more  effective  and  efficient.  Cooperation  will  focus  on 
emission trading systems, electricity systems, grid-modelling, financing of energy efficiency 
and business cooperation.  

18 

 
 
As laid out in the Joint Communication on the Gulf22, the EU will work closely with Gulf 
countries  to  promote  the  green  energy  transition,  including  investments  in  the  Southern 
Neighbourhood.  In  order  to  better  structure  its  cooperation  with  the  Gulf,  the  Commission 
proposed to hold annual ministerial meetings on the green transition complemented by related 
private sector initiatives. 

Central Asia is a key region rich in resources. Building upon the region’s potential in solar, 
wind and hydroelectric energy, the EU will encourage Central  Asia’s reforms of the energy 
sector and transition to a low-carbon economy, as well as cooperation on critical raw materials 
with countries such as Kazakhstan.  

5.2. Geopolitics and global energy architecture 

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a stark reminder that the world is marked by major geopolitical 
and economic power rivalries. If not counterbalanced, relations between major powers could 
become  increasingly  confrontational  and  unilateralist,  leading  to  competing  visions  and 
agendas. 

The  global  green  energy  transition  can  support  the  EU  in  achieving  its  broader 
geopolitical objectives to reinforce resilience and open strategic autonomy. The European 
Commission and the High Representative will promote EU’s energy objectives by reinforcing 
the role of energy diplomacy in the foreign and security policy. This will require strengthening 
monitoring mechanisms, foresight  and assessment of the  strategic implications of the global 
energy transition on partner countries. 

Effectively  addressing  the  challenges  of  the  global  energy  transition  requires  trust  and 
cooperation within the international community. The EU will step up its multilateral action in 
support of EU objectives and global commitments based on the principles of rules-based and 
effective multilateralism set out in the 2021 Joint Communication on strengthening the EU’s 
contribution to rules-based multilateralism23. Enhanced partnerships within the UN, G20 and 
G7, and closer cooperation with International Financing Institutions are necessary.  

Multilateral  energy  organisations  and  forums  such  as  the  IRENA,  the  IEA,  the  Energy 
Community,  the  International  Solar  Alliance,  the  Clean  Energy  Ministerial  and  Mission 
Innovation,  the  Global  Covenant  of  Mayors  for  Climate  and  Energy,  all  have  a  key 
responsibility  in  promoting  the  energy  transition  globally.  Some  organisations,  such  as  the 
Energy Charter, are in urgent need of deep modernisation in order to align them with the 2050 
goals, and the EU is actively addressing this. If sufficient reform of the Energy Charter Treaty 
cannot be achieved, the EU will consider withdrawing its membership. 

The EU will continue to support a more inclusive representation of emerging and developing 
economies in international institutions. The EU together with its Member States as part of  a 

22 Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf, 
(JOIN/13/2/2022) 
23 Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council on strengthening the EU’s contribution to rules-based 
multilateralism, (JOIN/2021/3 final) 

19 

 
 
                                                           
Team Europe approach will increasingly contribute to leadership and inclusive decision shaping 
through greater participation in governing bodies of relevant organisations. The EU should also 
weigh up the benefits of upgrading its collective presence to a full membership in the energy 
fora considered key and strategic for advancing the European Green Deal and this Strategy. 

Furthermore, the EU will reinforce cooperation within multilateral and regional organisations 
and seek closer engagement with the Union for the Mediterranean, the African Union and its 
agencies, the Latin American Energy Organisation (OLADE) or the Association of South-East 
Asian Nations (ASEAN) to address common challenges and work together at the international 
level. 

Key actions: 

  regularly monitor the geopolitical impact of the green transition; 
 

initiate a review of the EU’s engagement in international energy fora key for 
the global energy transition; 

  step up energy diplomacy in the EU and Member States’ foreign policy. 

6.  Conclusion 

This  is  a  critical  time  for  the  global  energy  policy.  Climate  change,  geopolitical  shifts, 
technological developments and increased global energy demand create a challenging and fast-
changing environment that require our energy systems and relations to adapt.  

Adding to that, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has far-reaching consequences for the energy 
security of not only the EU, but the entire world. Russia’s actions have triggered unprecedented 
price volatility on the energy markets and underlined the need for partnerships based on trust 
and shared long-term goals. 

The green energy transition is the only way to simultaneously ensure sustainable, secure 
and affordable energy worldwide. To be successful, that transition must be socially just and 
fair, leaving no-one behind. It means not only phasing out fossil fuels and outdated practices, 
but phasing in green energy, innovative technology, better markets and circular economy.  It 
requires tackling already now the potential future risks and dependencies.  

The transition  is  an opportunity for the EU and  its partners to  build together  a new energy 
system that is more sustainable, more equal and more collaborative. This communication 
lays out the EU’s strategy to reach that goal.  

20