As the European Union unveils its Clean Industrial Deal today, Ukrainian campaign group Razom We Stand urges policymakers to recognise that affordable energy depends on accelerating the transition to renewables, not prolonging fossil fuel dependence. If clean energy is put at the centre of this plan, it has the potential to drive Europe toward energy security, economic stability, and an end to Russian fossil fuel imports.
The notion that Europe cannot function without Russian energy is long outdated. In 2024, nearly 47% of the EU’s electricity came from renewable sources, with solar surpassing coal for the first time. Wind and solar are proving that transitioning away from fossil fuels is not just possible—it is already happening. The €300 billion REPowerEU plan is accelerating this shift, and the Clean Industrial Deal must build upon this momentum.
Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Executive Director of Razom We Stand, stated:
“Europe has a choice: continue wasting billions on fossil fuel infrastructure that will soon be obsolete or invest in a clean energy future that is cheaper, more secure, and resilient. Every euro spent on new fossil fuel projects locks us into dependence on volatile markets, while renewables provide long-term stability and economic prosperity. If the EU is serious about phasing out Russian fossil fuels, especially LNG, then this plan must be a turning point. Europe’s future is renewable. The faster we move, the more secure, prosperous, and independent we will be. This plan must be the moment Europe finally chooses a clean energy future over fossil fuel dependence.”
With gas demand expected to decline and renewables expanding at record rates, investing in new gas import infrastructure is an economic dead end, especially when cheaper renewable energy production booms. Yet, the European Commission recently approved €4.06 billion in state aid for German Floating LNG Terminals—an investment that makes little sense in a world moving toward decarbonisation.
Europe must stop subsidising fossil fuel expansion and instead prioritise investment in renewables that provide stable, affordable energy while also cutting off the Kremlin’s war funding. Expanding gas infrastructure today is an economic dead end when renewables are already the cheapest form of power.
Expanding gas export and import infrastructure with taxpayer handouts to private firms makes no sense at a time when the world needs to rapidly move away from fossil fuels to stop the massively expensive and destructive impacts of climate change, which are costing trillions.
The EU’s Clean Industrial Deal must align with REPowerEU, the European Green Deal, and the push to eliminate Russian fossil fuels. By prioritising wind, solar, and decentralised energy systems, the EU can:
- Ensure energy security without reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets.
- Drive economic growth through cost-effective clean energy investment.
- Cut off Russia’s war revenue and support Ukraine’s fight for freedom.
In Russian-occupied and recently liberated regions of Ukraine, small-scale solar and wind projects are already providing communities with independent, reliable energy, reducing their vulnerability to Russian attacks. The EU must embrace this model and build a resilient, decentralised energy system that cannot be weaponised.
Razom We Stand calls on the EU to seize this moment and make clean energy the foundation of the Clean Industrial Deal. Now is the time to:
- End all subsidies for new fossil fuel projects and focus on renewables.
- Implement a full embargo on Russian LNG to cut off Kremlin war revenues.
- Prioritise decentralised energy solutions to strengthen Europe’s resilience.
ENDS
