The international political landscape is changing at an unprecedented pace, with growing geopolitical tensions increasingly shaped by energy prices and critical raw materials. The European Union is facing mounting pressure not only to stabilise energy prices, but also to strengthen its strategic autonomy and internal resilience. In order to withstand external shocks and systemic risks, Europe must deepen cross-border energy integration, accelerate electrification, and coordinate investment decisions at the EU level.

Poland is an important part of Europe’s energy transition. Over the past decade, the share of coal in its energy mix has fallen by nearly 30%, the potential of renewable energy sources has expanded rapidly, and the nuclear energy programme is under development.

Against this backdrop, the conference Energize EU. 2026 Energy Security Outlook, organised on 24 June 2026 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Energy Forum’s activities, became a platform for discussion on the strategic directions of energy sector integration and reform in Europe.

The event brought together key decision-makers: representatives of the Polish government (including the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Ministry of Energy, and the Ministry of Finance and Economy), representatives of the European Commission (including an online address by European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen), financial institutions, regulators, as well as leaders of energy-intensive industries and energy companies. More than 200 participants attended the conference.

– Once again, we have seen that energy policy is no longer solely the domain of the energy sector. It has become one of the most important factors determining the pace of economic growth, the investment attractiveness of countries, and ultimately the future of European industry. That is why I see the energy transition not as a cost, but as a driving force for the Polish economy and one of the main engines of growth in the decades ahead. We must remember that the energy transition cannot be carried out separately from industrial policy. Without a strong industry, there will be no effective transition. And without an effective transition, it will be difficult to maintain a competitive industry in Europe – Andrzej Domański, Minister of Finance and Economy.

– Encouraged by the recommendations of the Energy Forum, we are working on a new version of the programme — one could say a new ‘Clean Air’ programme. I really like the name ‘Warm Home’. In order to accelerate the transformation of households, we have reorganised the ‘Clean Air’ programme and will continue improving it so that it reaches the widest possible group of beneficiaries and becomes more accessible and easier to implement. This is extremely necessary. I would like to thank the President of the Energy Forum, because work on this programme began with our joint meeting. We will be able to share more details soon – Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Minister of Climate and Environment.

– The slogan ‘drill, baby, drill’ is not a slogan suited to European or Polish realities. It is not a slogan that gives us a sense of security. Although it is often repeated — more as part of political performances than substantive debate — it does not correspond to our geophysical conditions or strategic needs. The slogan that should build our resilience and support the transition today is electrification. Every subsequent crisis demonstrates this. We live in interesting times, and this should serve as a reminder that we have been able to cope as a society thanks to the consistent progress of the transition and the strengthening of resilience – Miłosz Motyka, Minister of Energy.

– We are at an exceptionally challenging moment. Since the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, Europe’s bill for fossil fuel imports has increased by more than €40 billion, and these costs continue to rise. This crisis has been an extremely expensive lesson, but its message is clear: we must move away from dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate the development of clean energy. The sooner we draw conclusions from this and communicate them effectively across Europe, the sooner we will be able to reduce energy prices for our citizens – Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, European Commission.

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Panel I: Strategic Direction for Europe’s Energy Resilience

The first panel, which brought together representatives of governments, the European Commission and EU institutions, focused on ensuring affordable and competitive energy for Europe in times of geopolitical instability. The discussion was preceded by a presentation by BloombergNEF representative Sofia Perelli-Rocco, which highlighted the current state of investment in clean technologies and renewable energy sources.

LINK TO THE PRESENTATION ON BNEF’S LINKEDIN.

The debate focused on key legislative packages currently being discussed at the EU level: energy and climate governance, the Grids Package, and the electrification strategy. In this context, participants noted that Poland has recently demonstrated a clear momentum for change and that its actions are delivering tangible results.

During the discussion, panelists assessed the actions undertaken by Poland since 2022:

• Cooperation and redefining security - the discussion addressed the process of moving away from Russian fossil fuels, while representatives from Germany identified potential areas of cooperation with Poland, including coal phase-out and joint capacity markets. To increase Europe’s resilience and achieve climate objectives, both a common strategy and closer cooperation between countries are needed, based on improved infrastructure interconnections, the removal of regulatory barriers, and dialogue between public administration, business, and society.
• The role of coordinated action - representatives of the European Commission highlighted lessons learned from cross-border projects, while the Energy Community emphasised the importance of integration with neighbouring countries outside the EU (Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans). Experts warned against short-term national price protection schemes. Although such measures provide temporary relief, in the longer term they distort the market and discourage investors from financing the flexibility solutions necessary for the energy system.
• Bottlenecks and market destabilisation - The greatest challenge remains reducing energy prices while simultaneously advancing electrification. Electricity grids are currently a major bottleneck for change, as infrastructure development is not keeping pace with the connection of new renewable energy sources and the growing demand for electricity. 

Experts warned against short-term national price protection schemes. Although such measures provide temporary relief, in the longer term they distort the market and discourage investors from financing the flexibility solutions necessary for the energy system.

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Panel II: Implementing Change – Transformation Priorities for Poland and the EU

The second panel provided a pragmatic perspective on implementing transition objectives and electrifying sectors of the economy.

The panel was introduced with a presentation on changes in Poland’s energy mix (where the share of coal has fallen by nearly 30% over the past decade) and trends in the electrification of buildings, district heating, and industry.

A Decade of Change​.pdf 

The panelists then sought to answer the question: what needs to be done to make electrification the natural choice for businesses and citizens?

During the discussion, several key perspectives and dilemmas emerged:

• Costs under scrutiny: Wanda Buk (Energy Adviser to the President of the Republic of Poland) emphasised that the pace and costs of change are a source of concern for society. Continuous monitoring of costs for end consumers is necessary, as is designing support mechanisms that do not place excessive burdens on the state budget.
• Energy-intensive industry under pressure: Mirosław Motyka (President of the Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Metallurgy) identified the steel industry as a leader in industrial electrification, while stressing that without an appropriate pricing policy for energy-intensive sectors and genuine compensation for CO₂ emission costs, European — including Polish — industry will lose competitiveness.
• Financing infrastructure: Grzegorz Onichimowski (President of PSE) noted that the capacity market, which protects the system from capacity shortages, generates costs on consumers’ bills (the capacity charge). He suggested that, in order to remove these burdens from consumers and finance grid investments, a dedicated EU mechanism similar to SAFE for the energy sector would be beneficial.
• The social dimension of the transition: Magdalena Młochowska (Director Coordinator for a Green Warsaw) highlighted the risk of reducing the debate solely to economic indicators. For city residents, the most important benefits and motivation for change remain clean air and improved quality of life.
• Capital efficiency: Grzegorz Rabsztyn (Head of the European Investment Bank Group Office in Poland) recalled the role of the European Investment Bank in financing challenging projects, including those supported through the Modernisation Fund. He pointed to the need for better communication of the benefits arising from the EIB’s low-cost financing, which directly translates into lower costs of grid development.
• Regulatory challenges and the voice of the market: Renata Mroczek (President of the Energy Regulatory Office) assessed that price interventions must be precisely “tailored” to specific needs. The regulator’s role is to balance the interests of the industry and consumers, who should bear only justified system costs. As consumer needs vary, financial support should not be universal — it should be targeted precisely at those who need it and who are not yet benefiting from other forms of assistance.
• The role of the commercial sector: Grzegorz Lot (President of Tauron Polska Energia) highlighted a paradox: while natural gas remains a widely used heating source, a simple switch to a dynamic electricity tariff could reduce electricity bills by 20%.  He pointed to the need to develop flexible offers and emphasised the role of state-owned companies in reducing costs for end consumers.

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Final Reflections

The aim of the conference was to place national challenges within the broader European context of issues such as cross-border grid integration, the challenge of electrification, and coordinated infrastructure planning.

The event demonstrated that Poland’s energy security cannot be considered separately from the objectives and mechanisms of the European Union as a whole.

Although data clearly show significant progress in the development of clean energy capacity in Poland, costs and concerns about energy supply stability may weaken public support for the transition.

This is why arguments centred around economic resilience, system stability, and direct financial benefits for consumers will be increasingly important.

The success of the next stage of change will depend on whether it is possible to reconcile the EU’s regulatory ambitions with the real financial capabilities of industry and households.