A coalition of Europe's civil society and industry leaders has issued an urgent call for a binding post-2030 energy framework that would accelerate the continent's exit from fossil fuels through mandatory renewable energy and efficiency targets. The appeal, addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, comes as geopolitical tensions from Russia's war in Ukraine and Middle East instability have exposed the fragility of Europe's energy dependence.
The case for action is both strategic and economic. Europe's current 2030 energy and climate framework—built around the Renewable Energy Directive and Energy Efficiency Directive—has already delivered measurable wins: accelerated renewable deployment, improved efficiency, reduced emissions, job creation, and protection from volatile fossil fuel prices. But the signatories argue that success to date demands ambition for what comes next.
The numbers tell a compelling story. Electrifying roughly half of the EU economy by 2040 is projected to deliver net savings of around €29 billion per year through lower fuel imports and reduced system costs. A fully renewable-based energy system could save Europe €1.6 trillion while operating at the lowest cost. Perhaps most strikingly, every 1 percent improvement in energy efficiency cuts gas imports by 2.6 percent—making conservation the fastest-acting tool for energy security in an uncertain world.
The framework for post-2030 would rest on four pillars. First, the EU must maintain and strengthen binding targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency, while introducing a dedicated electrification pillar with quantified targets and benchmarks. These targets must cascade into national contributions and robust governance mechanisms to ensure real deployment across buildings, transport, and industry. Second, enforcement matters: Member States should plan technology-specific auctions five years ahead on a rolling basis, detailing timelines, budgets, and volumes. Third, existing legislation like the RED and EED must be implemented swiftly and consistently—a form of simplification that doesn't water down ambition. Fourth, renewable-based electrification must be strengthened through enhanced policy support, including greater uptake of power purchase agreements and smart, flexible electrification across sectors.
The appeal also highlights persistent shortcomings in the current framework: implementation gaps, insufficient enabling conditions for energy efficiency and renewable electrification, and limited cross-border cooperation that leaves cost-effective renewable potential untapped. Energy efficiency deserves particular attention, the signatories argue, because it improves industrial competitiveness, lowers energy imports, makes electrification more affordable, and mitigates energy poverty.
What gives this push weight is its unusual coalition. It unites actors rarely found together—environmental advocates and industrial associations, both of whom see Europe's energy transition as essential to their interests. They're not arguing for climate action alone; they're framing it as the foundation of European strategic autonomy, economic resilience, and competitive advantage. In a continent anxious about energy supply and cost, that message resonates. The choices Europe makes now for its post-2030 framework, they argue, will determine its energy security for decades to come.