The vice president of the European Commission has said the world’s energy is now being weaponised as geopolitical instability increases.

Kaja Kallas, (above) high representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and vice-president of the European Commission made her comments as the European Union published an international strategy for securing Europe’s place in global markets.

The new EU global climate and energy vision has been described as presenting the EU’s offer to the world: using diplomacy to protect our core interests, promoting standards for a fair transition by assisting our partners to develop theirs, and addressing the new security threats and challenges that endanger both European interests and those of our partners.

The EU added it is actively contributing to the ongoing clean industrial revolution across the world. The vision adds an external dimension to the Clean Industrial Deal and sets a new strategy to strengthen existing partnerships and forging new, mutually beneficial ones.

“To fully reap the benefits of the clean transition, the EU must be the industrial powerhouse supplying and providing clean tech and adaptation solutions to countries around the world and create new business opportunities for its own clean tech industry,” the vision stated. “As a market still dependent on fossil energy imports, renewables will remain at the heart of the EU’s clean transition.

“Almost half of EU electricity was generated by renewables in 2024. This significantly increases the EU’s energy independence and security. The EU has also seen an increase of 111% in the share of clean energy investments since 2015. The vision proposes to ramp up the EU’s clean technology manufacturing capacity to reach 15% of the global tech market, while improving its industrial competitiveness, in line with the Clean Industrial Deal.”

It continued: “The EU’s message to global partners is clear: we are working to fulfil the goals set out in the Paris Agreement; we are a reliable partner that plays by the rules; and we are open for business and cooperation.”

Kallas cautioned: ““Energy supplies are being weaponised while our climate rapidly changes. Energy is a resource and a strategic capability.

“Here we set out where the EU will focus our climate and energy diplomacy, from promoting European clean tech businesses, to upping our investment in projects across the globe that support a sustainable transition. Our message is simple: We want to secure our continent’s energy supply and work with our partners towards a future that is mutually beneficial, powered by clean energy and defined by climate resilience.”

As such the EU said it will continue fostering bilateral partnerships and multilateral alliances – existing and new ones – at international fora and at different levels, ranging from Free Trade Agreements, to Just Energy Transition Partnerships to Green Alliances.

Teresa Ribera, executive vice-president for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition said: “ The world needs fair and green development strategy, and Europe knows how to deliver it. We can turn values into value towards a climate-proof society. Our companies have decades of experience turn high social and environmental standards in lasting prosperity. We are reliable partners and we are ready to drive sustainable and resilient prosperity worldwide.”

The vision said carbon pricing is crucial for achieving global climate goals, reducing emissions, promoting innovation, and ensuring a just and orderly transition away from fossil fuels.

Major economies have recently adopted and expanded carbon pricing policies, which shows that it works. The EU added it is committed to its promotion through various initiatives, including supporting other countries in developing robust carbon pricing policies through a dedicated taskforce.

“The EU will continue driving robust international climate policies,” the publication said. “This includes stronger action to address the nexus between climate change, environmental degradation, and security and resilience by engaging at multilateral (UN and NATO) and bilateral levels.

Dan Jørgensen, EU commissioner for Energy and Housing explained: “What we are presenting today is a paradigm shift on how to conduct the EU’s relations in the world on energy and climate. We will combine diplomacy with technical energy assistance, trade instruments, industrial policy, and finance. We will be much more target oriented and focused on delivering mutual economic benefits, decarbonisation and energy security. We will harness our trade relationships to deliver more clean technologies and more energy projects, working both in Europe, with our neighbours and worldwide.”