Eurobarometer on energy
EU citizens support the bloc’s energy policies and plead for energy saving
Ştefan Stoica, 25.09.2024, 14:00
Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine forced the European Union as a whole and most of its member states to gradually give up Russian natural gas, so as not to fuel Moscow’s war machine. This, added to the goal of phasing out polluting fossil fuels in a reasonable timeframe, has pushed the energy issue quite high on the Union’s agenda.
More than three-quarters of Europeans believe the EU should have a stronger coordination role on energy matters, and according to a Eurobarometer on this topic, made public on Tuesday, EU citizens support the Union’s energy policy.
Eight in ten Europeans agree that implementing a climate neutrality target will spur new jobs and attract investments in the clean energy sectors, while three-quarters of them agree that climate neutrality will reduce dependence on energy imports.
Europe, said most of the interviewees, should diversify its energy sources, including thought renewable energy investments, and over 50% of Europeans argue we should save energy whenever possible.
40% of respondents answered that a European energy policy means ‘ensuring more affordable energy prices for consumers’, with another 33% saying the EU should invest in innovative energy technologies. Also, 30% said measures should focus on reducing energy consumption across Europe.
More than three-quarters of Europeans say they have considerably changed their habits to consume less energy at home in the last five years. When asked to choose from a list of options to reach climate neutrality, a majority of the respondents said the EU should encourage member states to focus on measures to support households in energy poverty, reduce energy consumption and make it easier for citizens to produce and consume their energy from renewable sources.
In a matter of a few years, the Union has redesigned almost every piece of its energy legislation, in line with the European Green Deal and in response to Russia’s illegal aggression against Ukraine and to Moscow’s weaponising its energy resources. Building revamping has been encouraged, and the operation of the electricity and natural gas markets has been reformed.
Due to the new EU financing instruments, impressive progress has been made to support citizens and the economy in reaching the climate neutrality goal by 2050.
In recent years, record-high energy bills for households and businesses, triggered by the rise in demand following the COVID-19 pandemic and by the war in Ukraine, have put pressure on national budgets and fuelled a rise in inflation, the Eurobarometer also reads. (AMP)
