EU climate chief warns China dependence will make EU’s green transition more costly

Published on 31/08/2026 – 10:00 GMT+2•Updated
10:02

Europe must confront its heavy reliance on China much sooner rather than later,” stated Wopke Hoekstra, the EU Climate Action Commissioner, speaking to Euronews about the urgent need to reduce dependence on Chinese firms for clean-energy technologies. Warning that postponing decisive action would only increase strategic vulnerabilities and associated expenses.

The urgency becomes evident when examining how dominant Chinese companies are in multiple clean-tech categories. European authorities have historically underestimated the depth of this integration, particularly in electricity storage, where a leading firm controls more than 80 percent of the bloc’s residential battery market and accounts for roughly 88 percent of imported lithium‑ion cells, according to Wood Mackenzie data.

This pattern reflects persistent exposure to strategic risks. As wind and solar generation scales rapidly, complementary storage capacity lags behind, leaving systems vulnerable until domestic manufacturing takes precedence.

Recent council deliberations under the Cyprus Presidency reinforced this trajectory, with ministers explicitly flagging the bloc’s reliance on Chinese‑produced storage assets. Simultaneously, the overall trade relationship faces pressure: in 2025 the EU recorded a record daily deficit of approximately €1 billion, fueling calls for more balanced commercial ties.

“Engagement with China remains essential, but it must yield concrete outcomes. When diplomacy stalls, the Union must mobilize all available tools,” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared on 27 August.

Brushe​y has responded to mounting concerns by implementing defensive measures aimed at safeguarding the European market against Chinese producers accused of illegal product exports, state‑backed subsidies, and problematic foreign investment flows. Beijing has signaled potential retaliatory actions in response. Hoekstra highlighted Solar Industry challenges as a cautionary case where national support was insufficient against deeply embedded Chinese competition.

Beyond overt market distortions, intergovernmental analysts point to subtle security threats. Reported cases include physical “kill switches” integrated into turbine models and systematic intellectual‑property theft targeting cutting‑edge European enterprises. These incidents underscore the need for rigorous regulatory boundaries.

“The goal is not to terminate trade with China but to dismantle the precarious position of relying exclusively on a single external supplier for technologies vital to energy transition,” Hoekstra asserted. “Building European capability now may entail higher outlays in the short term, yet such investments prove far less costly if delayed.”

By prioritizing accelerated capacity development for solar arrays, wind farms, batteries, and energy‑storage systems, Europe can fortify its strategic autonomy and align with the 2050 climate‑neutrality ambition without sacrificing geopolitical resilience.

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