EU Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth Wopke Hoekstra said Europe must increase its production of clean, homegrown, and cheap energy.
The push for energy independence comes as the European Union faces a volatile combination of geopolitical conflict and extreme weather, threatening both economic stability and climate targets.
Speaking Friday on the France 24 "Talking Europe" programme, Hoekstra said the continent needs to be more radical to address the current energy crisis. He said the ongoing wars in Iran and Ukraine are primary drivers of price shocks [1], [2].
"The only way out of energy crises fueled by the wars in Iran and Ukraine is homegrown energy," Hoekstra said [3].
Environmental factors have further strained the region's power grid. The commissioner said a severe drought in April 2026 [4] and a record-breaking heatwave in May 2026 [4] were critical stressors that have exacerbated energy instability.
Hoekstra said the transition to local power is not only a matter of security but a necessity for the public. "We owe it to European citizens to provide clean, homegrown, affordable power," he said [5].
The strategy aims to align the EU's immediate need for price stability with its long-term climate-reduction targets. By reducing dependence on external energy imports, the EU intends to shield its economy from the fluctuations of Middle East conflicts [6].
Hoekstra said the focus remains on ensuring that this shift toward homegrown energy is both sustainable and cost-effective for the average consumer [5].
“"We need more clean, homegrown, cheap European energy."”
This policy shift signals a move by the European Union to treat energy production as a core component of national security. By linking climate goals with the need to mitigate price shocks from the wars in Iran and Ukraine, the EU is attempting to frame the green transition as the only viable path to economic sovereignty and resilience against extreme weather patterns.
