Energy diplomacy
EU energy diplomacy aims to accelerate a global energy transition that is just, inclusive and leaves no one behind, promoting energy efficiency, renewable technologies and well-functioning global markets, amongst other things. At the same time, the EU’s energy diplomacy – taking into the geopolitical risk and climate impact associated with fossil fuels – systematically promotes and calls for a global move towards energy systems free of unabated fossil fuels well ahead of 2050, starting with coal, and a peak in fossil consumption already in the near term and an end to environmentally harmful fossil fuel subsidies.
Recognising the transition role of natural gas, EU energy diplomacy supports urgent efforts in light of Russia’s weaponisation of energy supplies to reinforce and safeguard the EU’s energy security while avoiding new dependencies, which is necessary to preserve the competitiveness of the EU and ensure affordable energy to citizens.
Responding to the energy crisis brought about largely by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU external energy engagement in a changing world presented on 18 May 2022 as part of the REPowerEU Plan, explains how the EU Energy Diplomacy supports a global, clean and just energy transition to ensure sustainable, secure and affordable energy, aiming to
- strengthen energy security and reduce Europe’s dependency on Russian energy imports
- support Ukraine to build back better and partners affected by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine boosting energy efficiency and the development of renewables
- accelerate a just and inclusive green energy transition globally
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Energy transition
EU energy diplomacy aims to accelerate a global transition of the energy sector which is responsible for over two-thirds of global Greenhouse Gas emissions, promoting energy efficiency, renewable technologies and well-functioning global markets, amongst other things.
The EU Energy Diplomacy will support an inclusive and socially just energy transition that leaves no one behind, as the key solution to ensure energy security and universal access to safe, sustainable and affordable energy in the EU and partner countries worldwide while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy security
EU energy diplomacy will support urgent efforts to reinforce and safeguard the EU’s energy security while avoiding new dependencies, which is necessary to preserve the competitiveness of the EU and ensure affordable energy to citizens.
In order to support the energy diversification the EU energy diplomacy will support outreach and coordination with reliable producers and large consumers to promote relevant infrastructure and action to reduce methane emissions, without undermining long-term climate neutrality goals.
Fossil fuel security will remain important in the coming years, and EU energy diplomacy will continue to promote open, and liquid global markets to this end. In the meantime, the EU also prepares for new energy security challenges stemming from raw material supply chains, cybersecurity concerns, access to clean energy technologies among others.
EU energy diplomacy will continue to promote and support the highest nuclear safety, environmental and transparency standards, regionally, in the immediate vicinity of EU borders, and globally.
Geopolitics and global governance
The energy transition toward climate neutrality will have significant impact on societies and can have geopolitical consequences. The EEAS will continue to strengthen foresight capability to anticipate new security and geopolitical challenges and Energy Diplomacy will support energy and economic diversification of our partners. The EEAS will actively work to ensure effective multilateral architecture and support ongoing reform processes to promote the alignment of existing multilateral governance structures with the Paris Agreement, which are essential to drive the global decarbonisation of the energy sector.
