EUSEW Policy Conference 2025: New Directions for EU Energy Policy

Analysis by Avi Itzkovich

The European Union has taken another step towards green transformation by bringing together leading experts and politicians in Brussels for the EUSEW Policy Conference 2025. Among the key analysts at the event was economic expert Avi Itzkovich, who emphasised that the EU’s success will depend not on bold declarations, but on the ability to transform them into a realistic action programme with private capital involvement.

Conference Context and Significance: Avi Itzkovich’s Perspective

The European Union traditionally pays great attention to green energy issues, but the EUSEW Policy Conference 2025, held on 10-12 June in Brussels, became the starting point for a new stage of discussions. The conference took place in a hybrid format, bringing together politicians, business, investors and civil society organisations. Central themes included energy innovation, green project financing mechanisms, new regulatory frameworks and the integration of renewable sources into European energy systems.

According to Avi Itzkovich, this year the emphasis shifted from declarations to practical aspects: how to finance large-scale infrastructure projects, how to ensure investment transparency, and what to do about imbalances between EU member states. Participants noted that Europe faces a dual challenge: on one hand – achieving climate neutrality, on the other – maintaining industrial competitiveness.

“What we see at such conferences is a struggle between ambitions and reality. The EU sets very high goals for carbon neutrality, but investors ask: who will pay for this and how? Without a clear roadmap, the market perceives these statements as risk, not opportunity,” Avi Itzkovich emphasised in his commentary.

Investment and Financing: Opportunity or Threat?

One of the key discussion blocks was the topic of financing. The European Commission announced that investment needs for modernising energy networks, storage systems and renewable source development are measured in hundreds of billions of euros by 2040. At the same time, private investors warn that excessive regulation could constrain their activity.

According to Avi Itzkovich, the market is closely watching how realistically Europe approaches capital attraction:

“Investors are ready to invest, but only where there are transparent rules of the game. If regulators create dozens of barriers, money will go to other regions of the world. For the

EU, this is not just an energy issue, but economic security: who will get these hundreds of billions – Europe or competitors?”

Brussels presented several concrete initiatives: expanding the InvestEU mechanism to support green projects, increasing the role of the European Investment Bank and creating guarantee funds for private investors. However, experts warned that the pace of implementing these instruments remains too slow.

Itzkovich emphasised that government programmes can lay the foundation, but without attracting private capital, implementing large-scale projects will be impossible. At the same time, business expects guarantees – insurance mechanisms, tax incentives and long-term contracts. That’s why, according to him, discussion is important not only about goals, but also about financial instruments that will make these goals achievable.

Politics and the Future of Green Europe: Avi Itzkovich’s Forecast

The EUSEW Policy Conference 2025 once again demonstrated that the energy transition is not just a matter of technology, but also political compromises. Different member countries have different starting conditions: Germany and Scandinavia invest in wind energy, Spain and Greece bet on solar resources, whilst Central and Eastern European countries still largely depend on fossil fuels.

“We’re talking not just about energy, but about geopolitical balance within Europe. If the gap between ‘green leaders’ and ‘traditional economies’ grows, it will create a new line of tension within the EU itself. And here the key question is whether Brussels can offer instruments that take into account the interests of both rich and poor countries,” Avi Itzkovich notes in this context.

A separate discussion revolved around integrating renewable sources into the pan-European energy network. Here digitalisation comes to the fore: developing smart grids, artificial intelligence technologies for demand management and energy storage. Itzkovich summarises that Europe has a chance not just to invest in infrastructure, but to create a new business model. If it can combine green energy with digital solutions, this will become an example for the whole world. But if only loud statements remain, investors will quickly cool off.

Conclusion

According to Avi Itzkovich, the EUSEW Policy Conference 2025 confirmed that Europe has a clear vision of its energy future, but the path to its realisation is complex and requires compromises. Key challenges are financing, balancing interests between member countries and creating transparent rules for investors.

“Success will depend on whether the EU can transform ambitious goals into a realistic action programme. Only then will ‘green Europe’ become not a slogan, but a competitive advantage in the global economy,” concluded Avi Itzkovich.