The EU energy security paradigm is changing. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine demonstrated again that energy supplies can be used as a political weapon. Breaking Europe’s dependence on Russian energy is in its interest, not only for energy security but also to preserve Europe’s sovereignty and ensure price and supply predictability. If the energy transition can be carried out in a planned, united and consistent way, it will be safe for all EU Member States.
The EU is now working on several important policy revisions: the EU energy security framework, which should be tabled in the first quarter of 2026, and a regulation to end imports of Russian natural gas. The latter is still not accepted by all EU countries, with political resistance in particular from Hungary and Slovakia. These countries still buy significant quantities of Russian pipeline gas and crude oil, and they argue that cutting supplies would be too costly given their regional situation. Forum Energii’s analysis indeed shows that while replacing Russian fuels with alternatives is technically possible, it would generate some costs. Although Europe could move forward without Hungary and Slovakia, a better solution is to find fair mechanisms that address these concerns while staying on course to end Russian fuel imports.
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During the online session, we addressed the following questions:
- What is Europe’s overall energy situation?
- What impact does REPowerEU have on the energy security of the whole region, and which aspects require additional consideration?
- How are prices being shaped?
- At what stage is REPowerEU?
- What are the main obstacles to the plan?
- What is behind the resistance of Slovakia and Hungary to foregoing Russian supplies?
- How can this resistance be overcome effectively and in a spirit of solidarity?
Agenda:
10:00-10:10 Welcome and setting the scene: The energy landscape in the European Union
- Joanna Pandera, President, Forum Energii
10:10-10:20 Introductory remarks: Context of the RePowerEU policy
- Maciej Zaniewicz, Senior Analyst, European Programme, Forum Energii
10:20-10:30 Commentary session
- Maciej Ciszewski, Head of Unit, Diversification and Joint Purchasing, DIR-F – Energy Security and International Relations, Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission
10:30-11:10 Panel discussion
- Aleksander Vigne, Team leader, Diversification and Joint Purchasing, DIR-F – Energy Security and International Relations, Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission
- Péter Kotek, Senior research associate, Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK)
- Isaac Levi, Europe-Russia Policy & Energy Analysis Team Lead, CREA
- Moderator: Maciej Zaniewicz, Senior Analyst, European Programme, Forum Energii
11:10-11:30 Q&A