Given that the United States became the European Union’s leading supplier of fossil fuels for the first time in 2025, how can we break free from this dangerous dependence?

For obvious geopolitical reasons, the European Union has a vital interest in reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels, both to meet its climate goals and to reduce its vulnerability to pressure from its suppliers.

Whether in the Middle East or the Americas, it appears that major producers can no longer be considered reliable and stable allies. The war in Ukraine has shown that it is possible to reduce our dependence on Russian gas and even eliminate it entirely by 2027.

Why not build on this momentum—making it even more transformative—and do the same with the United States, which accounted for 19.4% of the European Union’s total fossil fuel imports in 2025? If we did so, would it be painless for our economy and for European consumers, given that U.S. natural gas accounts for ~12% of our heating and domestic hot water needs (excluding industrial processes) (~400 TWh) (Gas imported from the United States in 2025: 27% - source) ?

Check out our expert's new opinion piece Michaël Margo, co-leader of our Energy Division.

Read the opinion piece on Actu Environnement

Read the op-ed