The EESC calls for more EU autonomy in energy, food, water and raw materials to better deal with emergencies

The EESC is urging the European Commission and Member States to quickly develop a plan to increase the EU's preparedness for emergencies. In particular, the plan should increase the EU’s sovereignty in energy generation, food and water production and the mining of raw materials.

Although wholesale energy prices have decreased since the peak of summer 2022, they remain unsustainably high for a growing number of Europeans. With winter approaching and the cost of energy a concern for citizens, the EESC wants the EU to improve its resilience to future crises. 

An own-initiative opinion adopted at the recent plenary session emphasised the EESC’s belief that continuous improvements to increase the resilience of energy systems to natural, political or other emergencies should be integrated into all energy policies. 
Increasing EU sovereignty or autonomy in energy should encompass the whole production chain, including research and development, material processing, design, manufacturing, installation, start-up and maintenance of facilities within the EU single market. 
Such a state of autonomy would help to eliminate energy poverty and unemployment. The most efficient preparedness for emergencies is based on resilience, be that technical or social.

Opinion rapporteur Paul Rübig also called for support for citizens and consumers who want to invest in their own energy production and efficiency.

“We need information campaigns, tax incentives and subventions for people who are ready to go for these and we have to build new transport infrastructure throughout the internal market, but also outside the European Union,” he said at the EESC’s October plenary.
EU energy policy should take into account the impacts on consumer purchasing power, the competitiveness of the European economy, and on the environment. It should ultimately aim to reduce dependence on imports of technology and energy and increase the number of high-tech jobs in the EU.

The Commission has recently proposed an emergency regulation to address high gas prices in the EU and ensure security and stability of supply. This will be done through proposed measures on joint gas purchasing, price limiting mechanisms, transparent infrastructure use and solidarity between Member States.

Going beyond this, the EESC calls for critical supplies of materials such as copper, lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements to be secured through new single market mining and recycling strategies. It recommends safeguarding sources of oil, coal, gas, uranium, water, food and animal feed and developing plans for rationing of energy, food, water and sanitation facilities.