EU getting rid of Russian energy addiction? When? How?

A Bruegel – Florence School of Regulation common initiative

The terrifying invasion of Ukraine will destroy existing relations between the EU and Russia for decades. Since Russia is the EU main supplier of oil, natural gas and coal, the EU has to redefine its energy future, starting from today.

However, we still need to discover how the EU will enter this new world. And the best way to do that is presumably to meet and to discuss it altogether.

It is what Bruegel, a leading Think-Tank in Brussels, and Florence School of Regulation, a Higher Education Centre, will do on Wednesday 24 March at 1:00 pm – 2.45 pm CET.

The first session of the event will explore European life without Russian energy. How will it come? What are the likely main consequences of getting rid of Russian energy?

We will do that with Georg Zachmann (Bruegel), answering to the question “Can the EU make it without Russian oil, gas and coal?”; and with Jean Pisani-Ferry (both Bruegel & EUI), answering the question “Can the EU manage first an ‘oil shock’ by stopping using of Russian energy, and then go straight to an accelerated “Macro Green Shock” to get rid of fossil energy?”

The second session will look at the reactions of European people and countries: will they be bolder, even hardliners?

We will do that with Alex Stubb, former Finnish PM (STG at EUI), answering to the question “Can Finland and other Nordics push a “hard-line” policy of European Security: a kind of Russian oil & gas ban or phasing out, plus acceleration of energy transition, plus acceleration of European defence build-up?”; and with Andris Piebalgs, former Latvian minister & EU Commissioner (FSR at EUI), answering the question “Can the Baltic & Eastern EU countries push a “hard-line” policy of European Security: a kind of Russian oil & gas ban or phasing out, plus acceleration of energy transition, plus acceleration of European defence build-up?”

Agenda of the event

First session: Without Russian gas?

Moderator: Ilaria Conti (FSR, EUI)

• Can the EU make it without Russian gas oil and coal? Georg Zachmann (Brueghel)
• Can the EU manage first an “oil shock” with Russian gas, and then go straight to an accelerated “Macro Green Shock” to get rid of this gas? Jean Pisani-Ferry (Brueghel; RSCAS, EUI)
• Q&A

Second session: Against Russian gas?

Moderator: Jean-Michel Glachant (FSR, EUI)

• Can Finland and other Nordics push a “hard-line” policy of European Security: Kind of Russian oil, gas and coal ban or phasing out, plus acceleration of energy transition, plus the acceleration of European defence? Alex Stubb (STG, EUI) TBC
• Can the Baltic & Eastern EU countries push a “hard-line” policy of European Security: Kind of Russian oil, gas and coal ban or phasing out, plus the acceleration of energy transition, plus the acceleration of European defence? Andris Piebalgs (FSR, EUI)
• Q&A

Read more

Preparing for the first winter without Russian gas | Bruegel

« Jamais la sobriété énergétique de nos concitoyens n’a été aussi cruciale pour notre destin » (lemonde.fr)