European energy policy sits at the fault line of geopolitical conflict, climate obligations, and transatlantic bargaining. While Hungary and Slovakia and others remain heavily reliant on Russian gas, the EU has sought to harden its stance through sanctions – most recently with Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement of a ban on Russian LNG imports in the 19th package.

The U.S.-brokered Turnberry Agreement of Summer 2025, obligating the EU to purchase $750 billion in American energy, and Trump’s conditional sanctions strategy -tying U.S. measures against Russia to Europe’s full disengagement from Russian supplies – further complicate the picture. Meanwhile, debates over France’s nuclear model, the future of the Green Deal, and whether to build genuine energy sovereignty rather than shift dependence onto new partners reflect Europe’s internal tensions. Unifying the European energy market emerges as a critical step in balancing climate goals, resilience, and autonomy.

How can EU policymakers design market integration to reduce vulnerability while maintaining competitiveness? And what policy framework can ensure that energy sovereignty aligns with both security imperatives and the Green Deal’s long-term objectives?