Ciarán Cuffe, European Green Party co-chair, said:
‘The devastating war in the Middle East and resulting oil crisis is a reminder of the urgent need to transition away from our dependence on oil. People across the region are victims of the violence. Across the Middle East, whole neighbourhoods are emptying out, as civilians who can, flee for their lives.’
‘In Europe, people are already feeling the impact on their fuel prices as an effect of Europe’s reliance on oil imports. This reminds us of the urgent need to move towards European autonomy, through renewable energy from sun and wind. With the Green Deal investing in wind and sun power, Europe was moving towards lowering its dependence on oil and gas. But the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Patriots, together with allies in the European People’s Party, have constantly been weakening this Green Deal protection that Europe was building against oil price shocks. The attacks from the right-wing and far right on the Green Deal renewables now have harsh consequences for European household budgets,’ Ciarán Cuffe said.
European Green Party Co-Chair Vula Tsetsi added:
‘European and global events over the past year remind us that political choices have consequences. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was the only European head of government attending Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, alongside far-right politicians from Alternative for Germany, National Rally (France), Vox (Spain), and Fidesz (Hungary). While she has yesterday distanced herself sotto voce from some of Trump’s policies - as their unpopularity became clear - the broader normalization of hyper-nationalist agendas by these politicians found a strong ally on Trump and vice versa.
At the same time, these same forces have undermined Europe’s Green Deal, slowing investments in wind and solar energy and deepening our dependence on imported oil and gas. The result is higher energy bills and financial pressure on households across Europe , a direct consequence of political choices that prioritize ideology and short-term profit over climate action, security, and human rights. Europe must now chart a different course: defend the rule of law, uphold international humanitarian standards, accelerate the clean energy transition, and protect citizens from the social and economic fallout of global conflicts. That is the Europe the Greens are fighting for,’ Vula Tsetsi concluded.
