By Oliver Towfigh Nia
BERLIN (AA) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday warned of "critical challenges” to European energy security.
“We all know that Europe is facing critical challenges to its security, to its economy and energy systems; nothing less than our way of life is at stake. Threats such as sabotage, cyberattacks, or other hybrid attacks are becoming more and more present in our lives. Energy costs remain high and volatile, posing challenges to households and industries alike,” said Merz in his opening address to the 3rd North Sea summit in Hamburg.
“In the face of these challenges and in the face of increasing geopolitical instability, we can and must stand more united than ever, not just in energy, but also in energy security matters,” he added.
Merz highlighted the energy potential of the North Sea as “a power hub for Europe” aimed at “enhancing Europe’s energy resilience.”
The North Sea summit was founded in 2022 in a bid to reduce European dependence on fossil fuel imports from Russia in light of the war with Ukraine.
Germany has joined other states on the North Sea in pledging to make big investments in expanding offshore wind power capacity.
The agreement signed by energy ministers at the North Sea summit in Hamburg foresees that wind farms in the North Sea will feed power to multiple countries.
Berlin said that up to 100 gigawatts of production capacity are to be made available across the region under the new deal.