On 14 July 2026, the European Parliament's ITRE committee held an exchange of views on energy priorities with Céline Gauer, Director-General of DG ENER. Gauer framed priorities around security of supply, electrification, grids, hydrogen, post-2030 governance, and investment. Electrification was presented as a core strategy, but Christian Ehler (EPP) questioned the narrative given slippage on hydrogen, grids, and wind targets. Ville Niinistö (Greens/EFA) backed electrification but stressed it must reinforce renewables and efficiency. Nicolás González Casares (S&D) supported electrification as the backbone of decarbonisation and urged tax reforms.
On hydrogen, Ehler and Christophe Grudler (Renew) criticised the gap between ambition and reality, pressing for revision of the green hydrogen delegated act and a low-carbon methodology including nuclear-based hydrogen. Gauer acknowledged the shortfall and confirmed targeted revision and a hydrogen strategy by end-2026. Methane regulation sparked pushback: Ehler noted 17 member states raised concerns, András Gyürk (PfE) asked for price guarantees, and Mirosława Nykiel (EPP) urged a stop-the-clock mechanism. Gauer announced recommendations to guide compliance and urged member states not to apply penalties temporarily, but defended the regulation's principle.
On affordability, Dan Nica (S&D) and Andrea Wechsler (EPP) questioned price reductions and called for stronger oversight of speculation and ETS manipulation. Gauer rejected a broad price-support fund, favouring targeted aid, and said she saw no evidence of ETS manipulation. Security of supply saw divergences: Gyürk and Daniel Obajtek (ECR) argued policy has failed, while Gauer countered that the EU faces a price problem, not a supply problem. Niinistö urged a ban on Russian oil imports; Gauer confirmed it remains planned but delayed. Nuclear technology neutrality was debated: Grudler and Virgil-Daniel Popescu (EPP) called for concrete support, while Gauer described the approach as technology-neutral and noted most nuclear investment remains with member states.
On grids and data centres, Ehler doubted the grids package goes far enough, and Niels Fuglsang (S&D) pressed for a data centre package with labelling and minimum performance standards. Gauer confirmed labelling is imminent and work on standards is under way. Consensus emerged on reducing fossil import dependence, grids as a bottleneck, hydrogen regulation needing adjustment, complementarity of renewables and nuclear, and the need for massive investment. Next steps include continued scrutiny and proposals after the summer break.