-- Europe has endorsed a new framework for energy and climate diplomacy, framing the global clean transition as central to its security, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy, according to European Council conclusions approved on Tuesday.
The Council said that advancing the clean transition would strengthen the bloc's economic security, strategic autonomy and resilience by reducing dependence on volatile fossil fuel imports.
It warned that energy security risks and the growing impact of climate change pose an "existential threat" to EU sovereignty, while noting the war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict as evidence of the vulnerability created by reliance on fossil fuel supply chains.
"The EU's security, competitiveness and strategic autonomy depend on the clean transition allowing us to break fossil fuel dependencies," the Council said in its conclusions.
Ministers approved the framework titled, "EU energy and climate diplomacy, boosting sovereignty and advancing the global clean transition," which sets strategic guidance for the bloc's international engagement on energy and climate policy.
The Council also welcomed the joint communication by the European Commission and the EU's foreign policy chief on the EU Global Climate and Energy Vision, which outlines priorities for deepening international cooperation on clean energy technologies.
The EU said it will continue building partnerships to support the global energy transition and climate resilience.