At yesterday’s Economic Dialogue in the ECON Committee, EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis warned of significant economic risks resulting from the energy price crisis. According to the Commission, new energy supply shocks could reduce growth in 2026 and 2027 by up to 0.6 percentage points and increase inflation by up to 1.5 percentage points. Nevertheless, the Commission is sticking to its current course. On this, AfD Member of the European Parliament Siegbert Droese stated:
“The Commission’s statements expose current EU policy: it itself describes the massive economic damage caused by its energy policy, and yet it continues it undeterred.
The Commission confirms that its policy is slowing growth and driving inflation. At the same time, it wants to intensify this course even further, with more regulation, more intervention, and a politically driven increase in energy prices. This is not crisis management, but a policy against its own economy.
While citizens and businesses are suffering from high energy prices, Brussels continues to cling to ideological projects. The preferential treatment of electricity over fossil fuels and the further tightening of emissions trading will increase the burden even more. Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular are especially affected, as they feel the impact of this policy most strongly.
At the same time, a fundamental contradiction is becoming clear: the Member States are supposed to cushion the effects of the crisis, but their room for manoeuvre is being severely restricted by EU rules. Responsibility is delegated, while control remains in Brussels.
The fact that the digital euro is being pushed forward in parallel highlights the EU Commission’s misplaced priorities. Instead of focusing on economic stability and prosperity, central instruments of control are being expanded further.
This policy endangers growth, competitiveness, and social cohesion in Europe. What Europe needs now is not further tightening, but a fundamental change of course towards affordable energy, economic common sense, and real relief for citizens and businesses.”
