Is a European single market for energy such a good idea?
LONDON — Whatever happens with the US-Iran peace process and global energy prices, the strategic implications of this year’s supply disruptions are already clear. The crisis is further confirmation of the need to phase out fossil fuels, both to mitigate climate change and to strengthen energy security. But for Europe, which remains heavily dependent on imported energy, some less obvious implications may ultimately prove more consequential. To address the precipitous decline in its share of global GDP this century, Europe must lower its energy costs. European de-industrialization stems not just from the decline of energy-intensive output such as chemicals, fertilizers, and steel, but also from the fact that European industries pay twice as much for electricity as their U.S. and Chinese competitors. As long as that remains true, the continent will fall behind in the industries of the future, not least AI, which depends on power-guzzling computing power. We have all heard the optimistic pitch for a transition from imported fossil fuels to domestically produced, price-competitive renew
