Brussels, 29 April (LaPresse) – “By the summer, we will present our Action Plan for Electrification, with an ambitious target. In the current EU budget, we have allocated almost €300 billion for energy, of which €95 billion is still available. I know I’m preaching to the wrong choir, but let’s seize this opportunity to switch to electricity immediately, not only in transport, but also in industry and heating.” This was stated by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in her speech during the European Parliament’s plenary debate on the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. ‘This is not just about affordability and competitiveness, but also about economic security. So, speaking of European independence, now is the time to electrify Europe,’ she emphasised. ‘Overall, we will need energy in abundance, particularly due to the rapid expansion of data centres and artificial intelligence,’ she explained. “Since the last crisis, we have already made great progress. In 2022, gas determined electricity prices 70% of the time. Today, that figure has fallen to 30%. That is why, this time, we have avoided the huge price spikes of the previous crisis. But electricity still accounts for less than a quarter of our final energy consumption. This is a much lower percentage than in the United States and China, and it must change, and it will change. A continent like ours – with limited fossil fuel resources – should be at the forefront of electrification.”
EU, von der Leyen: ‘Use the €95 billion available for the energy transition’
Brussels, 29 April (LaPresse) – “By the summer, we will present our Action Plan for Electrification, with an ambitious target. In the current EU budget, we have allocated almost €300 billion for energy, of which €95 billion is still available. I know I’m preaching to the wrong choir, but let’s seize this opportunity to switch to electricity immediately, not only in transport, but also in industry and heating.” This was stated by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in her speech during the European Parliament’s plenary debate on the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. ‘This is not just about affordability and competitiveness, but also about economic security. So, speaking of European independence, now is the time to electrify Europe,’ she emphasised. ‘Overall, we will need energy in abundance, particularly due to the rapid expansion of data centres and artificial intelligence,’ she explained. “Since the last crisis, we have already made great progress. In 2022, gas determined electricity prices 70% of the time. Today, that figure has fallen to 30%. That is why, this time, we have avoided the huge price spikes of the previous crisis. But electricity still accounts for less than a quarter of our final energy consumption. This is a much lower percentage than in the United States and China, and it must change, and it will change. A continent like ours – with limited fossil fuel resources – should be at the forefront of electrification.”
