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EU Fossil Fuel Dependence Fuels Authoritarian Blackmail, Says Neumann

4/24/2026

Summary

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Hannah Neumann warned that Europe’s reliance on fossil fuels enables authoritarian regimes to use energy as political blackmail.
She briefed the EU Parliament’s Iran delegation on regional instability and the EU’s energy challenges.
She said negotiations lack clear focus on nuclear policy, maritime security and regime issues.
She noted that the EU’s 90 billion-euro aid to Ukraine coincides with oil flowing through the Druzhba pipeline, which fuels Russia’s war economy.

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Story summary

Hannah Neumann warned that Europe’s reliance on fossil fuels enables authoritarian regimes to use energy as political blackmail.
She briefed the EU Parliament’s Iran delegation on regional instability and the EU’s energy challenges.
She said negotiations lack clear focus on nuclear policy, maritime security and regime issues.
She noted that the EU’s 90 billion-euro aid to Ukraine coincides with oil flowing through the Druzhba pipeline, which fuels Russia’s war economy.