{"id":2135963,"date":"2026-09-09T15:17:43","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T12:17:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2135963"},"modified":"2026-09-09T15:17:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T12:17:43","slug":"eus-plan-to-gain-independence-from-russian-energy-faltering-auditors-warn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2135963","title":{"rendered":"EU&#8217;s plan to gain independence from Russian energy faltering, auditors warn"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/64\/94\/1200x675_cmsv2_e645820f-e98e-562e-98ac-c24becbc039f-9906494.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2924413-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2924413\" data-cid=\"9907572\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924413-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/10\/57\/189x106_cmsv2_2cc9289f-270a-5b3f-9d97-18cb246f7d41-9901057.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Migrants remain near their tents on El Trampol\u00edn beach, in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, on 2 September 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ceuta crisis: EU grants Spain \u20ac114 million in show of \u2018solidarity\u2019\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924288-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2924288\" data-cid=\"9907378\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924288-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/69\/31\/189x106_cmsv2_8e531a77-7e5a-5c55-8073-fcc74b83b9da-9906931.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A restored 15-metre section of the ancient mosaic from the &quot;La Citt\u00e0 Dipinta&quot; site, discovered in the late 1990s\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Culture news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;Back to the city&#8217;: Italy unveils biggest frescoe from ancient Rome\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924416-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2924416\" data-cid=\"9907597\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924416-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/75\/97\/189x106_cmsv2_60601f37-1408-5891-9840-4381a01e7ed6-9907597.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Regularly drinking your coffee while it&apos;s &quot;very hot&quot; could lead to increased risks of oesophageal cancer, a new study reports.  \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Very hot drinks could triple risks of oesophageal cancer, study finds\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924265-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2924265\" data-cid=\"9906752\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924265-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/67\/52\/189x106_cmsv2_b3d9b213-cdb7-52d4-83c8-dfea60d1f8ae-9906752.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Morocco security forces patrol near the Spanish-Moroccan border from Ceuta on 15 August 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe Today<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    \u2018Migration is very much back on the agenda,&#8217; EU diplomat forewarns\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924413-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2924413\" data-cid=\"9907572\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924413-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/10\/57\/189x106_cmsv2_2cc9289f-270a-5b3f-9d97-18cb246f7d41-9901057.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Migrants remain near their tents on El Trampol\u00edn beach, in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, on 2 September 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ceuta crisis: EU grants Spain \u20ac114 million in show of \u2018solidarity\u2019\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924288-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2924288\" data-cid=\"9907378\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924288-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/69\/31\/189x106_cmsv2_8e531a77-7e5a-5c55-8073-fcc74b83b9da-9906931.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A restored 15-metre section of the ancient mosaic from the &quot;La Citt\u00e0 Dipinta&quot; site, discovered in the late 1990s\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Culture news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;Back to the city&#8217;: Italy unveils biggest frescoe from ancient Rome\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924416-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2924416\" data-cid=\"9907597\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924416-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/75\/97\/189x106_cmsv2_60601f37-1408-5891-9840-4381a01e7ed6-9907597.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Regularly drinking your coffee while it&apos;s &quot;very hot&quot; could lead to increased risks of oesophageal cancer, a new study reports.  \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Very hot drinks could triple risks of oesophageal cancer, study finds\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924265-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2924265\" data-cid=\"9906752\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924265-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/67\/52\/189x106_cmsv2_b3d9b213-cdb7-52d4-83c8-dfea60d1f8ae-9906752.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Morocco security forces patrol near the Spanish-Moroccan border from Ceuta on 15 August 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe Today<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    \u2018Migration is very much back on the agenda,&#8217; EU diplomat forewarns\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe News<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            EU&#8217;s plan to gain independence from Russian energy faltering, auditors warn<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/64\/94\/1536x864_cmsv2_e645820f-e98e-562e-98ac-c24becbc039f-9906494.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Pipes at the landfall facilities of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Lubmin, northern Germany.\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Pipes at the landfall facilities of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Lubmin, northern Germany.<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">AP Photo \/  Michael Sohn<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0AP Photo \/  Michael Sohn\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspMarta Pacheco\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1788966052\">\n                    Published on                 <time datetime=\"2026-09-09 17:00:52 +02:00\">09\/09\/2026 &#8211; 17:00 GMT+2<\/time><span class=\"c-article-publication-date__bullet\">\u2022<\/span>Updated<br \/>\n                                     <time datetime=\"17:17\">17:17<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay js-c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-share-comment-popup\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup js-c-article-share-comment-popup\">\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__header u-display-flex\"><span>Share<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-close.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"Close Button\" 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decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        A damning report from the European Court of Auditors identifies insufficient grid infrastructure and interconnectors across EU countries as major barriers to unlocking a fully integrated energy market.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>Four years after the European Union launched a plan to break its dependence on Russian oil and gas and accelerate the clean energy transition, an audit presented by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) on Wednesday said the bloc&#8217;s plan is falling well short of its ambitions. <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Russian oil imports have plunged following EU sanctions and gas imports have declined, the ECA auditors noted, but they urge caution against attributing all of that progress to REPowerEU, the plan launched by the European Commission in 2022 to achieve energy sovereignty and end all dependence on Moscow.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In our view, other factors also contributed to lower gas consumption \u2013 and consequently imports \u2013 which are not causally linked to the REPowerEU plan. These include mild winters, as well as reduced consumption by households and businesses in response to high energy prices,&#8221; reads the ECA report.<\/p>\n<p>The 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, which disrupted a major route for Russian gas to Europe, further accelerated the EU\u2019s push to diversify away from Russian energy and exposed the vulnerability of Europe\u2019s fossil-fuel infrastructure. <\/p>\n<p>Commenting on the ECA report, a Commission spokesperson argued that the REPowerEU &#8220;contributed to a drastic reduction of EU imports of Russian natural gas, falling from 152 billion cubic metres in 2021 to 36 billion cubic metres in 2025, reducing the share of Russian gas imports from 45% to 12%&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>While the Commission allowed some exceptions to the Russian ban, a complete phase-out of Russian LNG imports takes effect on 1 January 2027, and for Russian pipeline gas in September 2027.<\/p>\n<h2>Clean power and grids<\/h2>\n<p>The ECA also flagged insufficient renewable energy capacity, which the report describes as &#8220;negligible&#8221; compared with the Commission&#8217;s 103GW goal, and grid infrastructure, particularly cross-border electricity connections, as the plan&#8217;s most striking weakness. <\/p>\n<p>While the EU added more than 200 GW of solar and wind capacity between 2022 and 2024, the ECA auditors said the renewable capacity directly generated by REPowerEU measures was negligible against the 103GW target.<\/p>\n<p>The report warns that the EU risks replacing one form of energy dependence with another by moving away from Russian fossil fuels without building clean domestic generation and the grids needed to support it.<\/p>\n<p>The Commission and several EU countries, such as Portugal and Spain, have consistently flagged the latter as a major hurdle to establishing a fully integrated energy system across the bloc. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\" id=\"abe-article-related-1\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">&#8216;Portugal is an energy island and needs more flexibility,&#8217; minister says<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Several critics argue that without progress on that front, the EU won&#8217;t reach its climate and energy goals, and that pouring money into clean energy could lead to curtailment, shutting down electricity generation and driving negative prices \u2013 the EU&#8217;s true energy conundrum.<\/p>\n<p>The ECA audit comes as a blow to Brussels, which seized Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine to ditch reliance on cheap imported fossil fuels from Moscow, the EU&#8217;s top supplier until 2022, and accelerate the bloc&#8217;s Green Deal, its flagship plan for energy and climate transition, to become climate neutral by 2050. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Four years after its launch, REPowerEU has stalled, even though several hundred billion euros have been made available\u201d, said Mihails Kozlovs, the ECA auditor leading the report. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe must learn the right lessons now, as the new geopolitical tensions and their impact on energy markets underscore the need to accelerate diversification and prevent future over-reliance on a single supplier.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>No money, no EU energy integration<\/h2>\n<p>As is often the case in Brussels, the biggest hurdle to an integrated European energy system is a lack of funding.<\/p>\n<p>The EU auditors found that EU countries have committed just \u20ac54.3 billion of the \u20ac300 billion in additional funding made available through the EU recovery fund \u2013 less than one-fifth of the investment initially deemed necessary to meet the plan&#8217;s goals. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Informal replies sometimes say that it is cheaper for member states to borrow and get loans. There&#8217;s also an administrative burden attached \u2013 there are issues between grants and loans since grants do not count toward national debt and member states are reluctant to commit to this,&#8221; Stefano Sturaro, an EU auditor, told reporters on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>However, the Commission spokesperson defended the funding, saying it played a &#8220;pivotal role&#8221; in accelerating implementation of the REPowerEU priorities.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\" id=\"abe-article-related-2\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Five countries push back against Commission&#8217;s electric grid plans<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>National energy and climate plans were supposed to translate REPowerEU into concrete action, EU auditors warned, but EU countries included few or no specific measures or targets to advance their clean energy goals.<\/p>\n<p>For the EU auditors, Brussels has excelled at promoting energy independence more than financing and building the infrastructure required to sustain it. <\/p>\n<p>However, with a clear investment gap in sight, the Commission&#8217;s plan now depends on whether EU countries are willing and able to pay for it. <\/p>\n<p>The next political battleground is underway as EU co-legislators, the European Parliament and the Council, gear up to lock negotiations on the future of the bloc&#8217;s power grids by the end of the year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Russian gas imports rise despite EU phase-out<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Russia to end gas supply to Europe via Ukraine as five-year transit deal expires<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Russia to make drastic cuts to EU gas supply via Nord Stream pipeline<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  EU Policy<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Europe&#8217;s energy crisis<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Russia<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  renewable energy<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tp-vuukle\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__header\"><span class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__title\">Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage 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class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/71\/21\/320x180_cmsv2_3fe645e6-e8ca-557a-a9dc-d0f5aff9c85d-9907121.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"An empty classroom in Marseille, 16 October, 2023\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Calls for action in Europe as PISA results show fall in child literacy<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2923980-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2923980\" data-cid=\"9905401\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Spanish archaeologists find 4,400-year-old tomb in Egypt with original colours intact<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924129-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924129\" data-cid=\"9906076\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Saudi Arabia strikes back after heaviest Houthi attack in years<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924209-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924209\" data-cid=\"9906557\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US destroys five Iranian tankers as Tehran takes aim at Jordan<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924191-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924191\" data-cid=\"9906478\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    UK airports face more disruption after air traffic control glitch<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2923996-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2923996\" data-cid=\"9905319\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iconic Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell says he has five years to live after cancer diagnosis<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Four years after the European Union launched a plan to break its dependence on Russian oil and gas and accelerate the clean energy transition, an audit presented by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) on Wednesday said the bloc&#8217;s plan is falling well short of its ambitions.Russian oil imports have plunged following EU sanctions and gas imports have declined, the ECA auditors noted, but they urge caution against attributing all of that progress to REPowerEU, the plan launched by the European Commission in 2022 to achieve energy sovereignty and end all dependence on Moscow.&#8221;In our view, other factors also contributed to lower gas consumption \u2013 and consequently imports \u2013 which are not causally linked to the REPowerEU plan. These include mild winters, as well as reduced consumption by households and businesses in response to high energy prices,&#8221; reads the ECA report.The 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, which disrupted a major route for Russian gas to Europe, further accelerated the EU\u2019s push to diversify away from Russian energy and exposed the vulnerability of Europe\u2019s fossil-fuel infrastructure.Commenting on the ECA report, a Commission spokesperson argued that the REPowerEU &#8220;contributed to a drastic reduction of EU imports of Russian natural gas, falling from 152 billion cubic metres in 2021 to 36 billion cubic metres in 2025, reducing the share of Russian gas imports from 45% to 12%&#8221;.While the Commission allowed some exceptions to the Russian ban, a complete phase-out of Russian LNG imports takes effect on 1 January 2027, and for Russian pipeline gas in September 2027.Clean power and gridsThe ECA also flagged insufficient renewable energy capacity, which the report describes as &#8220;negligible&#8221; compared with the Commission&#8217;s 103GW goal, and grid infrastructure, particularly cross-border electricity connections, as the plan&#8217;s most striking weakness.While the EU added more than 200 GW of solar and wind capacity between 2022 and 2024, the ECA auditors said the renewable capacity directly generated by REPowerEU measures was negligible against the 103GW target.The report warns that the EU risks replacing one form of energy dependence with another by moving away from Russian fossil fuels without building clean domestic generation and the grids needed to support it.The Commission and several EU countries, such as Portugal and Spain, have consistently flagged the latter as a major hurdle to establishing a fully integrated energy system across the bloc.Several critics argue that without progress on that front, the EU won&#8217;t reach its climate and energy goals, and that pouring money into clean energy could lead to curtailment, shutting down electricity generation and driving negative prices \u2013 the EU&#8217;s true energy conundrum.The ECA audit comes as a blow to Brussels, which seized Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine to ditch reliance on cheap imported fossil fuels from Moscow, the EU&#8217;s top supplier until 2022, and accelerate the bloc&#8217;s Green Deal, its flagship plan for energy and climate transition, to become climate neutral by 2050.&#8221;Four years after its launch, REPowerEU has stalled, even though several hundred billion euros have been made available\u201d, said Mihails Kozlovs, the ECA auditor leading the report.\u201cWe must learn the right lessons now, as the new geopolitical tensions and their impact on energy markets underscore the need to accelerate diversification and prevent future over-reliance on a single supplier.&#8221;No money, no EU energy integrationAs is often the case in Brussels, the biggest hurdle to an integrated European energy system is a lack of funding.The EU auditors found that EU countries have committed just\u00a0\u20ac54.3 billion of the \u20ac300 billion\u00a0in additional funding made available through the EU recovery fund \u2013 less than one-fifth of the investment initially deemed necessary to meet the plan&#8217;s goals.\u00a0&#8220;Informal replies sometimes say that it is cheaper for member states to borrow and get loans. There&#8217;s also an administrative burden attached \u2013 there are issues between grants and loans since grants do not count toward national debt and member states are reluctant to commit to this,&#8221; Stefano Sturaro, an EU auditor, told reporters on Wednesday.However, the Commission spokesperson defended the funding, saying it played a &#8220;pivotal role&#8221; in accelerating implementation of the REPowerEU priorities.National energy and climate plans were supposed to translate REPowerEU into concrete action, EU auditors warned, but EU countries included few or no specific measures or targets to advance their clean energy goals.For the EU auditors, Brussels has excelled at promoting energy independence more than financing and building the infrastructure required to sustain it.However, with a clear investment gap in sight, the Commission&#8217;s plan now depends on whether EU countries are willing and able to pay for it.The next political battleground is underway as EU co-legislators, the European Parliament and the Council, gear up to lock negotiations on the future of the bloc&#8217;s power grids by the end of the year.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/09\/09\/eus-plan-to-gain-independence-from-russian-energy-faltering-auditors-warn&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/64\/94\/1200x675_cmsv2_e645820f-e98e-562e-98ac-c24becbc039f-9906494.jpg&#8221;] Europe News Ceuta crisis: EU grants Spain \u20ac114 million in show of \u2018solidarity\u2019 Culture news &#8216;Back to the city&#8217;: Italy unveils biggest frescoe from ancient Rome Health news Very hot drinks could triple risks of oesophageal cancer, study finds Europe Today \u2018Migration is very much back on the agenda,&#8217; EU diplomat forewarns [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2135963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2135963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2135963"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2135963\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2135963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2135963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2135963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}