From threat to opportunity: redefining energy security in Central and Eastern Europe

This policy brief summarizes a high-level roundtable hosted by Ember and the Clean Air Task Force during the 20th anniversary GLOBSEC Forum in Prague. The document argues that Europe must redefine energy security by transitioning from fossil fuel dependencies to clean firm power and electrification, while addressing new vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure and critical raw material supply chains.

• Fossil fuel imports continue to pose a threat to energy security, as diversification to other suppliers has limitations and long-term contracts no longer guarantee deliveries. The document notes that sourcing liquefied natural gas from the USA has diminished Europe's negotiating power regarding trade policy. To mitigate these risks, the authors suggest redirecting fossil fuel subsidies—such as Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) for gas Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems in Slovakia—toward clean energy projects like geothermal power and district heating, and closing loopholes for Russian gas imports via the TurkStream pipeline or LNG chains.
• The energy and digital transitions have introduced new security vulnerabilities, including hybrid warfare, cybersecurity threats, and critical raw material supply chain issues. The document advocates for a grid security framework for electricity grids similar to the EU Toolbox for 5G security. Regarding raw materials, while the EU selected 47 priority projects in 2025, recycling remains underutilised; only 12% of raw materials used in the EU came from recycling in 2023, though the upcoming Circular Economy Act aims to increase this to 24% by 2030.
• European energy security depends on market integration and collaboration to avoid nationalistic fragmentation. This includes the need for pan-European frameworks for capacity markets, auction schemes, and standardized designs for first-of-kind projects like small modular reactors (SMRs). The document highlights that interconnectors, such as the Romania-Moldova power connection and the Synchronization of Baltic States with the EU electricity system, have maintained electricity supplies despite Russian disruptions.
• To maintain global competitiveness, Europe needs an incentive-based investment approach similar to the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), rather than the restrictive measures currently emphasized by the EU. The document states that the EU Taxonomy and its national implementations are pushing utilities in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region to seek financing from non-EU sources, specifically China. The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development is identified as a key institution for piloting frameworks for offshore wind and CfDs in Croatia, Romania, and the Western Balkans.

APA

Czyżak, D. P., & Lagurashvili, T. (2025). From threat to opportunity: redefining energy security in Central and Eastern Europe. Ember. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2025/06/Ember-Policy-Paper-Globsec-Reflections.pdf

Chicago

Czyżak, Dr Paweł, and Tamara Lagurashvili. From threat to opportunity: redefining energy security in Central and Eastern Europe. Ember, 2025. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2025/06/Ember-Policy-Paper-Globsec-Reflections.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Czyżak |first1=Dr Paweł |last2=Lagurashvili |first2=Tamara |title=From threat to opportunity: redefining energy security in Central and Eastern Europe |publisher=Ember |date=19 June 2025 |url=https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2025/06/Ember-Policy-Paper-Globsec-Reflections.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{czyak2025from, author = {Czyżak, Dr Paweł and Lagurashvili, Tamara}, title = {{From threat to opportunity: redefining energy security in Central and Eastern Europe}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2025}, month = jun, url = {https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2025/06/Ember-Policy-Paper-Globsec-Reflections.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }