In a recent interview on NAFTEMPORIKI TV on 24 April, Professor Phoebe Koundouri discussed how ongoing geopolitical tensions, combined with a global economic slowdown, are shaping energy markets and economic stability in Europe.
She highlighted that Europe’s dependence on imported oil and gas makes it highly vulnerable to global price fluctuations, which effectively act as an external cost on the economy—driving up inflation, increasing production and transport costs, and reducing household purchasing power.
For Greece, these pressures are even more immediate due to its reliance on shipping, tourism, transport, and island connectivity, alongside its status as an energy-importing economy.
Her key message was the need for a realistic “Plan B” for Europe and Greece: accelerating renewables, expanding energy storage, strengthening grids and interconnections, improving energy efficiency, and protecting vulnerable households while building a stronger green industrial base.
