A coalition of more than 100 organizations and businesses has released an open letter to European Union President Ursula von der Leyen requesting action on fossil fuel dependency. The letter emphasizes that Europe is currently facing its second major energy crisis within four years, with the continued reliance on fossil fuels creating substantial economic and human costs across the continent.
According to the correspondence, the current situation has added more than €50 billion to Europe’s energy bill for households and businesses during this summer alone. Beyond financial impacts, the letter highlights the humanitarian dimension of the crisis, noting that successive heatwaves beginning in May have resulted in record temperatures, widespread wildfires, and severe droughts. The June heatwave period is cited as causing an estimated 14,000 deaths in Europe.
The signatories argue that Europe’s ongoing dependence on fossil fuels is not inevitable but rather reflects policy choices that leave citizens vulnerable to price fluctuations and geopolitical pressures originating outside the continent. They contend that this vulnerability undermines both European prosperity and the union’s capacity to exercise influence internationally.
The letter calls on von der Leyen to announce a comprehensive, independent, and science-based report during her State of the Union address. This proposed report would be led by an eminent independent figure and developed in consultation with academic institutions, civil society organizations, social partners, and businesses. The coalition requests that the report provide a strategic vision for the remainder of the current mandate and deliver a concrete plan for exiting fossil fuel dependence based on five identified priorities.
The signatories frame the initiative as an opportunity to transform the current crisis into a turning point, ultimately providing Europeans with an energy system characterized as affordable, renewable, secure, and domestically sourced.
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