On 8 July 2026, the European Union delivered a statement at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, reaffirming its commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) on affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. The statement, delivered on behalf of the EU and its Member States, underscored the bloc's role as Global Theme Champion on energy access and inclusive energy transitions, and highlighted its support for multi-stakeholder Energy Compacts, including commitments to develop national zero-emission energy roadmaps and Regional Energy Transition Outlooks for Europe, Africa and Latin America.
The EU's statement at the Special Ministerial Meeting on the Global Plan of Action for the Decade of Sustainable Energy for All to 2030 comes amid a global energy crisis that the EU said is undermining development and deepening inequalities. The EU outlined its domestic response, combining immediate crisis coordination with a faster transition towards affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy, including stronger grids, storage and electrification. The statement also referenced the Electrification Action Plan, foreseen for July 2026, which aims to speed up cost-effective electrification of the EU's energy consumption in transport, industry and buildings.
Internationally, the EU highlighted its Global Gateway strategy, which supports sustainable infrastructure partnerships worldwide, with a focus on clean energy, grids, connectivity and enabling regulatory frameworks. The EU noted its participation in the SEforALL Global Forum in Barbados in 2025, where it joined global leaders in pledging stronger cooperation to accelerate a just and equitable energy transition. The statement welcomed the launch of key publications supporting the SDG 7 review, including Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2026 and the SDG 7 Policy Briefs 2026, as well as UN-Energy's Work Programme for 2026 to 2030.
The EU's position emphasizes a multi-stakeholder approach, bringing together governments, UN bodies, international financial institutions, the private sector and civil society. This approach reflects a trade-off between accelerating energy access and transition through broad partnerships versus maintaining national sovereignty over energy policy. The EU's focus on Global Gateway investments and regulatory frameworks aims to balance economic development with environmental goals, potentially benefiting partner countries through infrastructure and clean energy access, while also creating opportunities for EU businesses in emerging markets. However, the emphasis on green hydrogen and zero-emission roadmaps may impose transition costs on developing countries reliant on fossil fuels. The statement did not address specific funding commitments or timelines for the Energy Compacts, leaving implementation details to future work.