Middle East crisis exposes EU’s energy vulnerability, Commission chief warns

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has exposed Europe’s “vulnerability” and heavy dependence on fossil fuel imports, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned.

Speaking at a nuclear energy summit in Paris, she said the crisis underscores the structural challenges facing the EU’s energy system, France 24 reports.

“For fossil fuels, we are completely dependent on expensive and volatile imports. They are putting us at a structural disadvantage compared to other regions,” von der Leyen said. “The current Middle East crisis gives a stark reminder of the vulnerability it creates.”

She also highlighted Europe’s high electricity prices, calling them “structurally too high” and emphasizing their importance for both citizens and industry.

“This matters enormously. Affordable electricity is not only crucial for our citizens’ cost of living, but it is also decisive for our industrial competitiveness,” she said.

Von der Leyen pointed to the growing role of home-grown low-carbon energy sources, including nuclear and renewables, as potential solutions.

“Together, they can become the joint guarantors of independence, security of supply, and competitiveness—if we get it right, now,” she added.

She noted Europe’s progress in renewable energy over the last decade, with solar and wind power now surpassing fossil fuels in the EU’s electricity mix.

“Our European wind turbine manufacturers are global powerhouses. They are exporting high-tech made in Europe to the world,” she said.

However, von der Leyen acknowledged that the nuclear sector has not kept pace. While nuclear energy supplied about one-third of Europe’s electricity in 1990, it now accounts for only around 15%.

By Vafa Guliyeva