Europe’s energy independence should primarily mean reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports — from the Middle East, the United States and Russia, which should not have become such a serious strategic vulnerability for European states. Under these conditions, the accelerated transition to its own non-fossil energy sources is considered not only as a climate challenge, but also as a matter of Europe’s security, stability and economic stability.
This was stated in an interview with Guildhall by Jytte Guteland, a member of the Swedish Parliament from the Social Democratic Party.
— What steps can Europe take to achieve energy independence?
— Energy independence for Europe essentially means independence from fossil fuels. We are talking about reducing import dependence on the Middle East, the United States and, unfortunately, still on Russia — a dependence that should not have been allowed to become such a strategic vulnerability for Europe at all.
The entire European economy — from industry to transport — remains highly vulnerable to unreliable and volatile imports of foreign fossil fuels.
Of course, Europe will not be able to completely get rid of this dependence overnight. But we must strive to limit it to the level that Europe — from Ukraine to Norway — can reliably cover with its own production.
This requires a joint European push towards non-fossil energy sources: from switching to electric vehicles to end dependence on gasoline to major changes in the production of goods and chemical products based on renewable electricity.
This is a climate issue, but it is also a matter of security and sustainability. Europe can no longer build so much of its wealth on importing fossil fuels from outside its borders.
— How do you assess the idea of increasing domestic oil and gas production in Western countries, especially in terms of its potential impact on defense capabilities?
— Increasing domestic production is a short-term solution, and it does not address the long-term structural weaknesses associated with the general dependence on imports.
Indeed, the defense sector is one of the most difficult areas in terms of abandoning fossil fuels. But even here, there are promising areas, in particular those related to the production of “green” steel.
At the same time, in sensitive areas such as operational fuel for defense needs, it should be produced within Europe rather than imported. But this, in turn, requires reducing excessive consumption of such fuels in other sectors where technologies to eliminate fossil fuels already exist.
Exclusively for Guildhall.
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