Sanctioning Russian fossil may be costly, but it is feasible Commentary In the midst of a cruel war and an unfolding climate crisis, Europe has to answer a crucial question: how do we cut our energy ties with Russia, while at the same time accelerating our transition towards energy efficiency and a renewable energy system? Commentary by Green MEP Bas Eickhout. By Bas Eickhout
How to break Czechia's dependence on Russian gas Analysis What longer-term, environmentally sustainable measures can the Czech Republic introduce to break its dependence on Russian gas while ensuring that no one is left behind? By Jiří Koželouh and Karel Polanecký
The climate crisis and the war in Ukraine's common denominator: fossil fuels dependence Commentary The consequences of the war in Ukraine are palpable even in Bratislava, over a thousand kilometres from the border. Ukrainian is heard more often on the streets, cars with Ukrainian number plates are appearing on the roads, the windows of shops and apartments are festooned with Ukrainian flags, and the city is alive with marches and initiatives in support of Ukraine. The only thing that has remained unaffected is the flow of oil and gas from Russia to Slovakia, and our payments for it. By Dorota Osvaldová
Away from Russian gas: Germany and Europe must swap their dependencies on fossil fuels for green energy partnerships Analysis As Germany moves away from Russian energy imports, new dependencies on fossil energies must be avoided. The potential alternative from energy-saving, renewables and European cooperation offers excellent opportunities in the short, medium and long terms. But this will require new, green energy partnerships built on a new foundation of values. By Sascha Müller-Kraenner and Constantin Zerger
Smart sanctions and how to diminish Europe’s dependency on Russian gas Commentary The ongoing suffering of the civilian population in Ukraine has led to calls for the EU, or individual Member States, to stop imports of Russian gas. The economic consequences of such a step would be very severe in the short run. But there is another way, more gradual, which would minimise economic disruptions. The EU should simply impose a special import tariff on Russian gas. Repost courtesy of EUIdeas. By Daniel Gros
The EU must do more to stop funding the Russian war in Ukraine! Interview With the EU’s ongoing purchase of Russian energy resources, the regime that is responsible for the current barbaric war in Ukraine is guaranteed a constant cash flow. Proponents of an embargo want to maximise the economic and financial pressure on Putin and withdraw financing from the Russian war machine. By Robert Sperfeld
Ending Russia's war of aggression with economic and energy policy options Commentary The primary goal must be to stop the war of aggression on Ukraine launched by Russia on 24 February 2022. The sanctions of EU and NATO countries are currently in contrast to the dependence on Russian raw material and energy supplies. Hundreds of millions of euros flow from Germany to Russia every day, counteracting the effect of the sanctions. This should now be an incentive to reassess the costs of more radical fossil fuel exit scenarios in the shortest possible time under crisis conditions. By Walter Kaufmann
Ending Russia's war in Ukraine: are we using all economic and energy policy options? Dossier The brutal Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and its consequences for Ukrainian society and the future of Europe are the subject of this dossier, with contributions from Ukrainian partners and pro-green voices from Germany and Europe on current developments.
Rethinking EU energy policy and energy efficiency: a Greek perspective Analysis The Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022 brought home what most of us knew already but had assigned secondary importance to: renewable energy properly deployed is not only good for the environment and human health, it is also good for people’s pockets and their freedom. By Elias Gianniris and Georgios Kostakos
Energy efficiency is the best choice for Europe’s energy sovereignty! Commentary The inability to adequately sanction the criminal invasion of Ukraine by Russian President Putin painfully demonstrates Europe’s massive dependencies from fossil fuel imports. Phasing out fossil fuels is no longer “just” about fighting the climate crisis, but also a precondition for Europe’s energy sovereignty and price stability. By Jutta Paulus