EU Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth Wopke Hoekstra said Europe needs more clean, homegrown, and cheap energy to address an escalating crisis.
This shift is critical as the European Union faces simultaneous pressures from geopolitical instability and climate-driven disasters. The bloc must secure its energy supply to avoid vulnerability to foreign powers while meeting strict environmental deadlines.
Speaking on France 24’s ‘Talking Europe’ programme on Friday, Hoekstra said the only way to escape energy crises fueled by the wars in Iran and Ukraine is through homegrown energy. The urgency comes as the region deals with a record-breaking heatwave in May 2026 [1] and severe drought conditions that began in April 2026 [2].
These environmental stressors coincide with ongoing conflicts in Iran, Ukraine, and the broader Middle East. EU officials said that enemies could exploit a reliance on foreign fossil fuels to choke the bloc during wartime [3]. Currently, the EU imports 95% of its oil and 85% of its natural gas for household consumption [3].
Hoekstra said that increasing domestic clean energy production is the primary path toward stability. This transition is also necessary for the EU to reach its binding emissions-reduction target of at least 55% by 2030 [4].
"We need more clean, homegrown, cheap European energy," Hoekstra said [5].
“We need more clean, homegrown, cheap European energy.”
The EU is attempting to decouple its energy security from volatile global markets and adversarial regimes. By linking the 2030 emissions targets to national security, the commission is framing the green transition not just as an environmental necessity, but as a strategic defense mechanism against the weaponization of oil and gas.
