The European energy crisis can help boost a much-needed EU integration. Winston Churchill said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” The EU is facing one of the most serious crises in its history because of Russia’s war on Ukraine and the worst energy crisis since 1973. However, the invasion has prompted an unprecedented series of measures that could transform the internal energy market in ways that seemed unimaginable a few months ago.
Moscow has recently decided to tighten its gas supplies to EU countries in order to undermine European efforts to fill gas storage tanks and break Europe’s unity. In response, member states are considering future energy rationing plans, to have enough spare volumes for the upcoming winter. Governments are also struggling to find non-Russian gas, notably in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and to accelerate the green transition.
Potential competition among member states for non-Russian supplies and lack of solidarity and harmonisation of rules in the case of supply disruption (“Russian gas crisis will test EU solidarity, warns German utility RWE”, FT.com, June 24) could potentially undermine the foundations of European unity. Yet, the current energy crisis represents a fundamental opportunity to strengthen the EU architecture. European countries and institutions are called to renew and improve political and energy integration to increase interconnectivity, vital to move energy across the region from the least to the most vulnerable ones, to strengthen solidarity among member states in case of supply disruptions, to harmonise rules and plans required to face lower supplies in the short term and to protect households and businesses.
The current gas crisis, coupled with the European Green Deal, could be instrumental in further enhancing European integration and equipping the bloc to better navigate energy and climate governance.
Member states’ response to today’s crisis will determine the future European political and energy landscape.
Margherita Bianchi
Pier Paolo Raimondi
Energy, Climate and Resources Programme, Istituto Affari Internazionali
Rome, Italy