The European energy crisis: Shock therapy for the EU’s clean energy transition

In 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its weaponisation of the gas supply to Europe triggered an unprecedented energy crisis in the EU. The abrupt cut-off of Russian gas supplies to several member states in May and June 2022, further compounded by a partial shutdown of the Frenchnuclear fleet1 and severe summer droughts that hampered EU hydropower generation2, induced a perfect storm on European energy markets. The objective of this Policy Brief is to assess how effectively the EU and its member states have aligned their actions in addressing the energy crisis with the strategic goals of the European Green Deal, reflect on the outlook and the main challenges for the EU’s clean energy transition, and offer recommendations for the way forward.