Central and Eastern Europe need a strong clean energy strategy, backed by the EU, to boost regional resilience
In the light of major geopolitical shifts, embracing a technology optionality path in line with Central and Eastern European countries’ unique resource endowments is the only viable path for achieving genuine energy sovereignty and economic growth.
As the geopolitical landscape across Europe continues to shift in response to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, a new report from Clean Air Task Force (CATF) finds that the clean energy transition in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is no longer just a matter of climate policy – it is a geopolitical necessity. The report, Strategy at the Geopolitical Crossroads: The Imperative for Secure and Clean Energy in Central and Eastern Europe, explores how the region can transform its energy vulnerabilities into strengths.
“Clean energy isn’t just a climate solution for Central and Eastern Europe – it’s a strategic imperative,” said Tamara Lagurashvili, Director, Central and Eastern Europe at CATF. “The region’s future security and prosperity will depend on its ability to shift away from fossil fuel dependence and toward a resilient, interconnected, and homegrown clean energy system. That means investing in infrastructure, bolstering local supply chains, and aligning climate goals with industrial modernisation.”
The report highlights how competition between global powers – including Russia, China, and the United States – is reshaping energy geopolitics in CEE. While Russia’s influence in fossil fuels continues to wane, China’s dominance in clean tech manufacturing has introduced a new form of strategic dependence. Meanwhile, conflicting policy signals from Washington and the region’s strategic position for the EU’s decarbonisation objectives have complicated alignment across the region.
To navigate this complex environment, the paper identifies seven core policy directives for CEE governments and EU institutions:
- Adopt a technology-neutral transition to scale proven low-carbon technologies (nuclear energy, wind, solar, hydropower) while diversifying into emerging options (advanced geothermal for unlocking clean firm power potential, carbon capture and storage for future-proofing CEE’s industrial base).
- Reduce fossil fuel dependence strategically without undermining long-term decarbonisation goals.
- Strengthen regional cooperation through cross-border grid planning and market integration with Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans.
- Build local clean tech manufacturing to reduce foreign dependence and drive economic growth.
- Align EU enlargement with energy transition goals, making infrastructure and industrial modernisation a priority.
- Develop a compelling public narrative that emphasises energy transition as a path to sovereignty, stability, and competitiveness.
- Institutionalise strategic foresight to prepare for future geopolitical, supply chain, and market disruptions.
“CEE leaders must resist the temptation of short-term fixes that deepen long-term vulnerabilities,” said Andrei Covatariu, author of the report commissioned by CATF. “Clean energy isn’t just an environmental goal – it’s the foundation for security, economic resilience, and geopolitical agency in a fast-changing world.”
Read the full report here.
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About Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With more than 25 years of internationally recognized expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world. Visit catf.us and follow @cleanaircatf.
