22 April 2026 14:40 UTC · European Commission · EU Commission Press Release · Source · Email X Link

European Commission announces package to accelerate electrification

Key points

Launches package to fast‑forward electrification and support vulnerable households
Calls for EU unity and Global Gateway cooperation on energy and climate

TL;DR

European Commission launches a Brussels package with two pillars: alleviate pain for vulnerable households (tools for Member States) and accelerate electrification.
Commissioner Hoekstra cites EU fossil fuel import bill of EUR 22 billion over 44 days (about EUR 0.5 billion/day) and says electricity is only 23% of final energy consumption in Europe.
The Commission calls for coordinated action by the 27 EU countries, faster permitting, more storage and grids, and cooperation via Global Gateway.

Original text

European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Remarks by Commissioner Hoekstra at the 17th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in a session on "Accelerating Implementation to Close the Gaps" Berlin, 22 April 2026 Thank you dear Chairs, Thank you Carsten for hosting us here in beautiful, sunny Berlin. Dear friends, This amazing city cannot hide the fact that we have a huge problem. We're all facing the dire consequences of what's happening in the Middle East. Earlier someone shared with me the numbers of the EU's bill for fossil fuel imports: 44 days, EUR 22 billion. So it's half a billion a day. And that is of course true all over the globe. It articulates therefore - and here I am building on the previous speakers - how hugely important it is to bring climate, competitiveness and independence much more hand in hand. We, as Europe, are determined to make sure that homegrown, affordable energy is at the very core of what we are doing. And we determined to fast-forward it. That's exactly what the package we're launching today in Brussels is about. It stands on two feet. One, to make sure we alleviate the pain of vulnerable households and citizens. It's very much up to our Member States. There are tools there. Second, it's about electrification, as the previous speakers have said. We do need a step change there. Certainly also in Europe, electricity still represents only 23% of final energy consumption. That is not good enough. We need much more in terms of storage, grids, faster permitting, flexibility and intelligence to run the network efficiently. For Europe, there is the additional challenge to ensure the 27 countries act as one in terms of an energy market. We also want to make sure we do it together through our initiatives such as Global Gateway. In my view, this year our shared objective should be to put electrification at the absolute core of the international climate and clean energy agenda. If we achieve that, if we make progress on that, then we can look back at a very fruitful year, despite all the misery we're living through. Thank you very much. SPEECH/26/865 Press contacts: Anna-Kaisa ITKONEN (+32 2 29 57501) Ana CRESPO PARRONDO (+32 2 29 81325) General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email

European Commission announces package to accelerate electrification

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