In July 2025, at a time when Europe is shaken by a persistent energy crisis, the common market appears to be a strategic weapon for preserving economic integration, securing energy supplies and maintaining intra-European trade. Between geopolitical tensions, the energy transition and soaring prices, the Member States are looking to their union as a bulwark against instability.
A common market under pressure: energy, trade and solidarity in 2025
ince its creation, the European single market has been based on four pillars: the free movement of goods, services, people and capital. In 2025, a fifth pillar will become a reality: energy cooperation. Faced with rising gas prices, supply disruptions and the slow adoption of renewable energies, the European Union has had to react.
In May, the European Commission presented a strategy to strengthen the common market by simplifying administrative procedures, supporting SMEs and speeding up the digitisation of trade. This plan now includes a clear energy dimension: guaranteeing collective energy security, notably by diversifying sources and investing massively in cross-border infrastructures.
The EU’s energy policy is thus becoming a central element of economic resilience, based on the energy transition, the development of local production and the sharing of resources between Member States.
Energy as a strategic issue of sovereignty
The war in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East and the return of Donald Trump to the White House have all rekindled fears about Europe’s energy dependence. As a result, the July debates at the European Council put energy security at the heart of the growth strategy. The objective is clear: to strengthen independence while ensuring the competitiveness of industrial sectors threatened by the high cost of energy.
The European Commission has published a report on energy security in June 2025, highlighting the importance of joint projects in energy storage, distribution and production, notably via solar, hydrogen and offshore wind power. The common market, already effective in cushioning trade shocks, is also becoming a platform for action to relocate energy supply chains.
Translating European solidarity into action
But if the words are there, the deeds must follow. Tensions remain high between Member States, with some accusing others of taking advantage of solidarity mechanisms without committing themselves to fair efforts. In July, France, Germany and the Nordic countries signed a bilateral pact to pool investment in renewable energy production. Others, such as Poland and Hungary, are still refusing to accept overly strict environmental constraints.
This is where the 2025 common energy market comes into its own: it can only function sustainably if energy regulation is harmonised, climate objectives are shared, and European financial tools (such as Horizon Europe or the Digital Europe Programme) are used to support innovation.
The outlook: a test for European integration
Despite the obstacles, the indicators show a strong resilience in intra-European trade. The volume of intra-EU exports remains stable, cross-investment is holding firm, and supply chains are adapting to the new energy situation. So European economic integration continues to act as a shock absorber, even in an uncertain environment.
The common energy market 2025 is becoming a veritable laboratory for the Union’s ability to face up together to a systemic challenge. If Europe succeeds in meeting this energy challenge without becoming fragmented, it will be able to demonstrate that its model of integration is not just a slogan, but a political, economic and ecological reality.
Within the Parliament itself, The Left (GUE/NGL) welcomed the report adopted on 4 July, while calling for a stronger commitment to the European energy resilience strategy: “a phasing-out of Russian imports by 2027”, more investment in renewables and energy efficiency – all essential measures to ensure that the common energy market 2025 does not remain a commercial tool, but “a project for ecological and social sovereignty shared by the peoples of Europe”. In the same vein, the left-wing political groups expressed clear positions:
- The S&D group pointed out that “the green transition is an opportunity for Europe to modernise its industry, create clean jobs, reduce energy costs and strengthen its energy security”.
- The Greens-EFA welcomed the budgetary effort, but criticised it for being “insufficient” to meet the real needs of Europe’s energy transition.
