A strategic vision on energy transition to enable the EU's strategic autonomy

Key points

The EESC:

• Presents a comprehensive vision for the energy transition in order to build and promote the EU's strategic autonomy in the field of energy, based on seven own-initiative opinions addressing various aspects of the energy transition. [1]

• Supports the implementation of immediate measures to address the most pressing issues, in particular to ensure security of supply at a cost that is "as affordable as possible" for both consumers and industry, and to compensate for lost energy supplies from Russia, without creating new long-term dependencies on fossil fuels.

• Believes that the goals and measures proposed under the "European Energy Union" and the Green Deal are correct in essence but are not yet sufficient to lead Europe to a secure, sustainable and competitive "strategic energy autonomy".

• Demands that the social dimension must be taken into account in any measures planned as part of the energy transition. This is needed so as not to jeopardise public approval for the necessary changes and to ensure a just transition.

• Underlines that the "just transition" is not just a question of financing the transition. It also includes the objective of safeguarding workers' rights, creating decent work, quality jobs and social security, strengthening democratic participation (including at company level), and maintaining and further increasing the competitiveness of European businesses, and requires specific action at all levels, particularly at regional level.

• Stresses that the potential that Europe has in the field of renewable energies must be identified as accurately as possible and communicated widely in order to promote a common understanding of the extent to which independence from energy imports can be achieved. In addition to exploiting this potential as quickly as possible, energy-saving potential must be exploited even more vigorously.

• Points out in many of its opinions that acceptance is a crucial prerequisite for ensuring rapid transformation. Therefore, it reiterates its call for wide-ranging and targeted information and awareness-raising measures, delivered in a coordinated and complementary manner by the European Commission and the Member States, together with business organisations, chambers, social partners and other relevant stakeholders.
• Reiterates that not only must social and regional cohesion funds and reconstruction aid be used in a way that supports climate action and the energy transition, but climate and energy policy must also be designed to promote social and regional cohesion.

[1]            REX/550, TEN/771, INT/979, SOC/717, NAT/859, ECO/853, CCMI/190