The European Union is preparing to announce its first-ever electrification target in July. The measure will form part of the bloc's new energy roadmap and comes at a time when renewable energy is reaching record levels within the European electricity system, while Brussels accelerates the implementation of the agreement with Mercosur to strengthen strategic supply chains linked to the energy transition.
“Next month we will present an electrification target for the European Union, the first in history,” European Commission spokespeople announced during the second day of the EU Climate Dialogues 2 (EUCDs2) program, which Energía Estratégica is attending.
The decision comes amid an accelerated transformation of Europe's energy mix. According to Ember's European Electricity Review , wind and solar power generated 30% of all electricity consumed in the European Union in 2025 , surpassing fossil fuels for the first time. Solar generation reached a record 369 TWh , a 20% increase over the previous year , while in 14 of the 27 member states, combined wind and solar power production already exceeds fossil fuel generation.
The announcement also comes amid growing concerns about the bloc's energy security. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and renewed tensions in the Middle East, the European Commission believes Europe is facing a new crisis linked to its dependence on imported fossil fuels.
“We are experiencing a second major fossil fuel energy crisis in less than five years because we are completely dependent on imported fossil fuels,” the Commission stated.
In this context, electrification emerges as one of the pillars of the EU's strategy to reduce external vulnerabilities. The goal is to move towards an energy system based on indigenous, low-emission sources, supported by a greater share of renewable energy and, depending on the sovereign decisions of each Member State, also nuclear energy.
“Our long-term strategy is to ensure that most of our energy is produced locally and cleanly within the European Union. In practice, this means renewables and nuclear energy,” explained one of the spokespeople.
Mercosur in the European sights
Alongside the announcements planned for July, Brussels is moving forward with the implementation of the agreement with Mercosur, considered a key tool for deepening economic and energy cooperation between the two regions. Approved in January and signed after 27 years of negotiations, and provisionally in effect since May of this year, the treaty is considered the most far-reaching trade agreement in the history of the South American bloc.
According to official data, it will eliminate tariffs for 92% of Mercosur exports and will cover 99% of agricultural products, in addition to incorporating specific provisions related to sustainability, investment and technological cooperation.
“Our different mechanisms work together: the Global Gateway and the trade agreement help to boost trade and investment. The agreement with Mercosur only came into effect a month ago, so it’s still early days, but we are very optimistic,” said Olof Gill, European Commission spokesperson.
The European Commission is confident that the provisional application will demonstrate the economic and trade benefits of the agreement before the final vote in the European Parliament. Furthermore, it believes that the international context reinforces the need to strengthen alliances with strategic partners.
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“In a world where geopolitical tensions are rising, where there are not one, but two wars very close by, we believe it is very important to get closer to partners we can trust, such as the Mercosur countries,” they said from Brussels.
The European Union plans to mobilize around 1.4 billion euros for initiatives related to infrastructure, energy, digitalization and the green transition , with a focus on strengthening productive capacities and accelerating the adoption of clean technologies.
Within this strategy, Brussels identifies specific opportunities for the development of renewable energy, green hydrogen, and new value chains associated with the energy transition. The most advanced discussions are underway with Argentina and Chile, countries with which the European Union is already working on roadmaps and memoranda of understanding related to hydrogen.
“There is enormous interest in Latin America,” highlighted the European Commission, which is promoting an ambitious plan to incorporate hydrogen into its future energy mix. However, European authorities acknowledge that the development of these projects will also depend on the consolidation of demand.
“Exporters will need a market, and that’s something we also need to work on here,” they said.
Alongside Mercosur, Brussels also highlighted the update to its agreement with Mexico, which it considers a key platform for deepening economic and energy cooperation. According to officials, the new rules incorporate more up-to-date standards and tools designed to facilitate investments related to the energy transition and decarbonization.
In line with the objectives of the European Green Deal, the European Commission also made it clear that the focus of its future investments will be on technologies compatible with the energy transition. Priority will be given to renewable energy, hydrogen, digitalization, and sustainable infrastructure, while projects linked to fossil fuels are excluded from EU funding priorities.
However, the transformation does not depend solely on adding new generation capacity. Brussels warns that the current infrastructure represents one of the main challenges to sustaining the projected growth of clean technologies.
The European Commission believes that modernizing the grid will be crucial for absorbing an increasing share of renewable energy, improving the integration of electricity markets, and strengthening the system's resilience to extreme events. To this end, the bloc is working on measures aimed at streamlining permits, reducing regulatory barriers, and mobilizing private capital.
“We need massive investments in the electrical grid,” officials stressed, adding that “public money will not be enough to upgrade the electrical grid.”
For his part, Olof Gill, European Commission Deputy Chief Spokesperson, concluded: “What the European Union offers its partners is different from what China or the United States offer. Our model is based on rules. We agree on rules with our partners, and there is a much stronger focus on the green transition.”