Press release - May 28, 2014
Brussels – Greenpeace has criticised a European Commission plan on EU energy security released today for potentially prolonging Europe’s addiction to energy imports of polluting and expensive fossil fuels.
Greenpeace protest on 28 May at pipelines taking Russian gas from Slovakia to the Czech Republic.
Commenting on the plan, Greenpeace EU energy and transport policy director Franziska Achterberg said: "The Commission’s plan will do very little to reduce the EU’s dependence on energy imports. Throwing money at new gas infrastructure to get Europe off Russian gas will not cure the addiction to imported fossil fuels. Europe would still be a junkie desperate for a fix."
"Instead, Europe should kick the habit and exploit the enormous potential for energy savings and home-grown renewables by setting ambitious targets for 2030. Anything less would not only be environmentally and economically disastrous. It would be politically irresponsible."
In 2012, the EU spent €421 billion [1] buying over half of its energy (53 per cent) from abroad. The Commission’s own analysis shows that the development of renewable energy and robust energy savings measures can reduce energy imports significantly [2].
As the Ukraine crisis unfolded and fears for gas supplies gripped EU governments, EU leaders asked the Commission to prepare an energy security plan for the “reduction of EU energy dependence” [3]. Heads of state and government will discuss the plan at a summit in late June, where they are also due to consider proposals for EU climate and energy policies up to 2030.
Notes:
[1] European Commission, 22 January 2014
[2] Greenpeace media briefing, 28 May 2014
[3] European Council, 21 March 2014
Contacts:
Franziska Achterberg – Greenpeace EU energy and transport policy director: +32 (0)498 362403, 
Greenpeace EU pressdesk: +32 (0)2 274 1911, 
For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties.