US-Iran tensions disrupt Middle East energy routes, driving up oil and gas prices. After the 2022 energy crisis, Brussels launched the Grids
...Brussels launched the Grids Package. Can this plan cut Europe’s reliance on foreign energy? Energy dependence became Europe’s urgent problem in 2022. And yet, the EU continues to lean on imported fossil fuels. To reduce Russian influence, Europe has shifted to liquid natural gas (LNG), with 10-15% of its supply now passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Recent attacks in the Gulf have slowed shipping through the strait, intensifying the impact on Europe. Scarcity is increasing demand for oil and gas, driving up electricity and fuel prices. Europe’s efforts to reduce energy dependence have not matched its capabilities. According to MEP and Volt co-founder Damian Boeselager, a decade-long “reactive stance” is responsible.-2026 is expected to be a turning point. The Grids Package and the Citizens Energy Package aim to establish a single European energy market with cross-border infrastructure to ensure more secure and accessible energy. How ready is Europe today? Under REPowerEU, the EU decisively expanded member states’ gas storage capacity to at least 90% every year, boosting energy security from 2022 onward. Renewables hit 25.2% of the EU’s overall energy consumption in 2025, increasing the bloc’s domestic energy production while reducing Russian gas imports from 45% in 2022 to 13% by 2025. EU diversification of fossil fuel supply was decisive. In 2021, Russian gas accounted for 45% of imports, oil for 27%, and coal for 50%. Latest data show that in Q3-2025, 60% of EU LNG came from the US, 70% of coal came from Australia and the US, and Norway, the US, and Kazakhstan supplied 42% of the bloc's petroleum needs.
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The switch from Russian to US gas will come back to bite the EU on the arse. I foresee Trump using it to blackmail Europe.












