18
Jun
2025
Watch
Electricity grids: the backbone of the EU energy system (debate)
Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, Power outages – this is a scenario that, fortunately, is currently extremely rare in the EU thanks to stable electricity grids. However, the energy demand is increasing every day as grid expansion comes to a standstill, not only because of a lack of planning, but increasingly also because cables and transformers are missing. According to the Energy Agency, it now takes up to four years to procure large transformers. Delivery times have almost doubled since 2021, and this is no coincidence. Demand for copper and aluminium will continue to increase by one third by 2050; Without secure supply chains and strategic raw material partnerships, the network will not be expanded. That is why I am also very, very active as a parliamentary representative on the EU Raw Materials Board for a better and secure supply of raw materials. At the same time, we finally need targeted measures to address the shortage of skilled workers. By 2050, more than 2 million additional jobs will be needed in electricity distribution alone. We therefore need a new training offensive, technology-oriented, practical and with more women in the energy sector. Electricity grids are not just infrastructure, but a strategic overall project – industrial policy, raw materials policy, education policy. Thank you to the rapporteur, and now it is time for implementation.