Europe's energy independence plan stalls as reliance on foreign gas persists

Europe's push for energy independence has hit major roadblocks despite ambitious plans. Last summer's EU-US trade deal aimed to cut reliance on Russian gas by importing American liquefied natural gas. Yet recent setbacks, including the so-called Greenland crisis, have left officials questioning the reliability of US supplies.

Now, as ideological splits slow progress and two-thirds of Europe's energy still comes from foreign oil and gas, the continent faces tough choices to secure its future power needs.

The EU has rolled out sweeping measures to break free from Russian gas by 2027. Under the RePowerEU plan, member states will invest up to €1,400 billion in energy grids by 2035 and rapidly expand renewables. Germany is leading efforts to turn the North Sea into the world's largest clean energy hub, hosting a 2026 summit with Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Norway, the UK, and others. Meanwhile, Austria is stockpiling gas and cutting electricity taxes, Hungary is boosting storage, and Burgenland has slashed prices through wind and solar power.

Yet deep divisions persist over which energy sources to prioritise. Far-right groups push for fossil fuels, while far-left factions oppose nuclear and even some renewables. Danish Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen called the Greenland incident—a disruption in US gas shipments—a wake-up call for Europe to stop relying on unstable foreign supplies. Critics argue that while politicians attack domestic energy firms for excess profits, they ignore the far larger sums spent on imports from the Middle East and beyond.

China, in contrast, has aggressively expanded its own energy mix—ramping up renewables, coal, and nuclear to cut import dependence. European officials now admit that labelling energy as good or bad only limits options. With foreign suppliers controlling prices, the focus has shifted to using every affordable domestic source available.

Europe's energy strategy remains caught between grand plans and harsh realities. The 2027 deadline to phase out Russian gas looms, but ideological clashes and import dependence still undermine progress. Without faster action on domestic production—whether through renewables, nuclear, or other sources—the continent risks staying vulnerable to global energy shocks.