Over 100 European organizations and businesses have launched a coordinated campaign calling on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to commission an independent, science-based roadmap designed to prevent future fossil fuel supply crises. The appeal arrives amid broader energy security concerns stemming from Europe's dependence on imported oil and gas, particularly following disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions.
The coalition encompasses environmental organizations, renewable energy companies, and major corporations across multiple sectors. Their demand centers on a comprehensive strategy to accelerate Europe's transition away from fossil fuels, framed explicitly as a crisis prevention mechanism rather than solely an environmental objective.
Europe faces a structural vulnerability in its energy infrastructure. The continent imports roughly 60 percent of its energy needs, with significant portions of oil and natural gas sourced from politically unstable regions or single suppliers. Recent years have demonstrated the cost of this reliance. Supply shocks translate directly into price spikes, inflation pressures, and economic disruption across member states. The coalition argues that another major fossil fuel crisis is not a matter of if but when, absent deliberate policy intervention.
The request targets von der Leyen's State of the European Union address, positioning this moment as a critical juncture for European leadership. The timing reflects recognition that the incoming term presents an opportunity to embed energy independence into the European Union's core strategic framework, alongside climate commitments already established under the European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package.
A science-based roadmap would necessarily include accelerated renewable energy deployment, grid modernization, energy efficiency improvements across buildings and industry, and reduced final energy demand through behavioral and systemic changes. The coalition's framing links energy security directly to renewable development, arguing that domestic renewable resources eliminate the geographic and geopolitical vulnerabilities inherent in fossil fuel markets.
The request aligns with broader European policy momentum. The EU's REPowerEU initiative, launched in 2022 following Russian gas supply cuts, already committed to accelerating renewable installations and improving energy efficiency. Current EU law mandates 42.5 percent renewable energy by 2030. However, coalition members argue that these targets remain insufficient to genuinely eliminate fossil fuel dependency and the crisis risk it creates.
Economic modeling from energy analysts supports this framing. Transitioning Europe's power sector to near 100 percent renewables by 2035 would require sustained investment and policy consistency but poses no technical barrier. Battery storage costs continue declining. Interconnection infrastructure improvements already underway would enable balancing of variable renewable sources across the continent.
The campaign also reflects business sector recognition that energy uncertainty undermines long-term planning. Manufacturing, transportation, and data center operators all face volatile energy costs and supply risk under current arrangements. Renewable energy provides cost predictability and eliminates fuel price volatility entirely.
Member states vary in their renewable capacity and fossil fuel dependency. Poland and parts of Central Europe rely heavily on coal. Southern states benefit from abundant solar resources. Northern states possess wind potential. A coordinated European roadmap would necessarily address these regional disparities while establishing common deadlines and standards to prevent competitive disadvantage.
The coalition's request essentially reframes energy transition not as an environmental constraint imposed on Europe but as a strategic imperative protecting European economic interests and political sovereignty from external shocks.