Cyprus has called for greater investment in electricity networks, energy storage and cross-border connections, stressing that EU energy policies must also reflect the different circumstances of each member state.
Energy Minister Michalis Damianos made the remarks on Thursday as he arrived at the EU Energy Council meeting in Luxembourg, where ministers are discussing energy security, electricity affordability and competitiveness.
He said the energy transition must deliver tangible benefits for European citizens, with affordable electricity and secure supplies remaining key priorities.
“Energy security is not a luxury, and affordable electricity is essential,” Damianos said, calling for greater cooperation and solidarity between EU member states.
Cyprus stresses need for a realistic energy transition
Damianos said Europe needed more investment in energy storage and electricity interconnections, while taking account of the different challenges faced by member states, particularly in the electricity sector.
He also called for a realistic approach to climate targets, taking into consideration current conditions, national circumstances and the difficulties faced by individual countries.
The minister said the energy transition should produce practical results for citizens rather than focus solely on long-term targets.
Greece to brief EU ministers on Cyprus-Greece electricity link
Greek Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou said he would brief his EU counterparts on progress and the next steps for the Cyprus-Greece electricity link, also known as the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI).
He described the project as one of strategic importance for the European Union, saying it was progressing according to plan and in line with the law of the sea.
Papastavrou said the interconnector would help end Cyprus’s energy isolation and argued that the EU needed an Energy Union that included all member states and delivered tangible benefits for citizens.
EU warns of difficult winter as energy costs remain high
EU Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen warned that the coming winter would be difficult for households struggling with high energy bills.
He said almost 50 million Europeans, on average, had been unable to heat their homes adequately because of high energy prices this year, adding that the figure could rise further.
Jørgensen urged member states to accelerate their move away from fossil fuels by expanding renewable energy, improving energy efficiency and switching from gas and oil boilers to electricity where possible.
He acknowledged that subsidies for fossil fuels might be necessary to support vulnerable households, but said such measures should be targeted and temporary.
EU uses less gas but affordability remains a concern
Jørgensen said the EU was better prepared than during the 2022 energy crisis because gas consumption had fallen by 18% compared with that year. He also noted that the bloc had diversified its gas supplies, reducing its reliance on Russia.
However, he said the current crisis was more complex because it also affected oil and petroleum products.
Although the EU was not expecting a supply security crisis, he stressed that sufficient supplies would offer little reassurance to people unable to afford fuel or heat their homes.
Ireland’s Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien, said EU energy reserves were strong, but the cost of energy remained a major challenge for households and businesses.
He said the Irish presidency of the Council of the EU aimed to complete work on the electricity networks package and return the file on network charges to the Council in December, with the goal of reaching a general approach.
O’Brien also acknowledged differences between member states, particularly over taxation, and said Thursday’s meeting offered an opportunity to discuss their positions and seek a compromise.
He added that the EU and national governments had no simple way to eliminate price increases, making action on network charges, infrastructure and faster electrification important priorities.
Also read: People at risk of poverty face greater difficulties with daily activities
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