Majority of Europeans Back Reducing Fossil Fuel Imports to Make Europe Safer, Polling Shows

Recent polling across five major European countries reveals widespread public support for reducing fossil fuel imports to enhance the continent’s security. The survey, commissioned by Transport & Environment, E3G, and the Electrification Alliance, found that 64% of respondents believe cutting reliance on imported fossil fuels would make Europe safer. This consensus spans traditional political divides, signalling a broad mandate for clean energy investment and electrification as strategic priorities amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the protracted crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. Key details from the poll highlight strong backing for government initiatives promoting electrification technologies. More than half of those surveyed support financial incentives for heat pumps, with particularly high approval in Italy and France. Similarly, funding for electric vehicles (EVs) enjoys majority support in several countries, including Spain, Germany, Italy, and France, where direct subsidies for household EV purchases are also favoured. The data further indicates that European cooperation on energy matters has become increasingly important, with a majority of respondents in four countries emphasising the need for collective action in the current energy crisis. Notably, centre-right voters emerge as some of the most enthusiastic proponents of clean electrification measures, suggesting that the transition to renewable energy could transcend partisan politics. This presents a significant political opportunity to frame the clean energy shift as a unifying project centred on security, independence, and prosperity. Advocates argue that clinging to fossil fuel dependence perpetuates economic vulnerability and external risks, a stance that is becoming increasingly untenable in the eyes of European citizens. Looking ahead, the findings support calls for accelerated electrification policies, including the rollout of heat pumps, EVs, and charging infrastructure, to underpin Europe’s energy security. Policymakers are urged to treat the reduction of fossil fuel reliance as a core objective, pursued with the same urgency as clean technology deployment. Enhanced cooperation among EU member states on energy grids, infrastructure, and joint procurement is also recommended to build a resilient and affordable clean energy future, reflecting the clear preferences expressed by the European public.