French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe's energy crisis is now a structural dependency problem, not just a supply disruption. Speaking in Madrid, he argued that the continent gave up cheap Russian gas after the Ukraine conflict, and that this exposed the industrial core of Europe to higher energy costs. He also pointed to the Strait of Hormuz as a reminder that even countries with cleaner power grids still rely on fossil fuels. The remarks matter for anyone tracking European climate policy. Macron tied sovereignty, competitiveness, and carbon reduction goals into one problem: Europe cannot reach net zero while staying exposed to volatile fossil fuel markets. The underlying tension is familiar to carbon market watchers. Clean power buildout is accelerating, but industrial electrification, grid capacity, and permitting will decide whether Europe can actually cut emissions without losing its industrial base. This article from EADaily summarizes the speech and the broader context. It is useful reading for those focused on energy security and decarbonization tradeoffs in the EU.
