Geopolitical and economic uncertainty, combined with the evolution of hybrid warfare, calls for a reflection on the role Europe intends to play in the medium and long term. Its positioning on the global stage, the management of the growing influence of China and the BRICS nations, and relations with transatlantic partners all define a context in which energy and industry are central to economic sovereignty.
Europe’s perceived marginal role in the energy landscape stems not from industrial or technological deficits, but from the absence of a coherent vision that integrates industrial policy, energy security, and innovation. The primary challenge is strategic.
The downsizing of Europe’s economic weight affects its ability to oversee critical industrial and technological processes. Global competition is played out not only on costs but on the control of key nodes within value chains. In recent years, energy costs in Europe have been higher on average than in the United States and Asia. The 2022 crisis highlighted the vulnerability arising from dependence on external supplies. While replacing Russian gas with other sources has increased the physical security of supply, it has resulted in higher prices and greater volatility. Diversifying sources and routes reduces systemic risk but does not guarantee long-term competitiveness.
Energy-intensive sectors are particularly hit by cost differentials, influencing investment, production location, and the development of new supply chains. Price containment measures mitigate temporary shocks but do not alter the competitive framework. Supply-side interventions—based on investment in production capacity, infrastructure, and innovation—are necessary.
The energy transition represents another crucial step. The European Union has adopted ambitious decarbonization targets; however, regulatory leadership does not translate into full industrial autonomy in key technologies. The production of photovoltaic panels, batteries, and critical materials remains concentrated in Asia, generating new dependencies along the value chains.
A paradox emerges: Europe contributes relatively little to global emissions but bears high costs for the transition, impacting manufacturing competitiveness. Sustainability must be integrated into an industrial strategy based on technological neutrality and the enhancement of existing skills.
Italy has significant room for action. The country is a European leader in traditional geothermal energy and possesses developable potential through advanced technologies. Consolidated expertise exists in biogas, biomethane, and components for energy efficiency. However, fragmented decision-making and a lack of shared priorities limit its systemic impact.
The downsizing of major production hubs has weakened the ability to oversee key industrial chains, particularly in the high-quality steel and chemical sectors. The issue is not a lack of skills, but the difficulty of integrating them into a coherent industrial policy.
Infrastructure plays a decisive role. The integration of power grids, the development of storage systems, the strengthening of interconnections, and digitalization represent essential levers for system resilience. Italy’s geographical position in the Mediterranean can foster new energy corridors with Africa and the Middle East, strengthening the country’s role as a platform for energy exchange and transformation.
New technological vulnerabilities are emerging with the spread of data centers and artificial intelligence applications, increasing electricity demand and raising questions of digital sovereignty. The concentration of semiconductors, electronic components, and digital platforms in a few countries constitutes a strategic risk comparable to that of energy raw materials.
Security must be addressed in a broad sense: supply, prices for businesses and households, and the industrial system’s ability to adapt to the effects of climate change. Pressure on water resources, relevant for plants and data processing centers, requires integrated planning of energy and environmental variables.
Comparison with China highlights how long-term planning allows for the control of raw materials and key technologies. Europe can compete by focusing on industrial quality, the integration of research and manufacturing, and high-value-added specialization.
The main challenge lies in transforming fragmented potential into an integrated strategy capable of combining security, sustainability, and competitiveness. Energy and industry are inseparable levers of European projection. Defining shared priorities, strengthening the most important supply chains, and ensuring consistent long-term planning are necessary conditions for consolidating production autonomy and economic resilience.