Climate Commissioner Hoekstra: call for a creation of an "Energy Union"

"We need the creation of an Energy Union connecting the 27 energy markets, thanks to strong investment in interconnectors and renewable capacity, to make sure electricity flows through the continent" says Wopke Hoekstra, European Climate Commissioner, as he presented an overview of the global and European challenges shaping the green transition, at Forum Europe on 24/06/2025.

Woepke Hoekstra identified major trends influencing the coming decade: geopolitical instability, climate change, artificial intelligence, migration and integration, and Europe’s lagging economic competitiveness.


Acknowledging higher energy costs in Europe “if industrials leave, everyone loses (workers, the economy, and the climate)” he said, arguing for short-term support and long-term structural reform.

Climate change still seen as a priority

“This geopolitical world will stay with us for years to come,” he said, citing the war in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East and the Pacific, and their long-term impact on global stability. On climate, Hoekstra highlighted the risks of complacency. “It will stay with us…