Letter from Europe: Politicians must be braver
Energy’s economic, geopolitical and climate challenges require the continent’s decision-makers to step up
February marks the end of my almost four-and-a-half years as editor-in-chief of the PE Media Network and of day-to-day responsibility for Petroleum Economist content. It has been a great privilege but—given the events of the past few years—has not been without its challenges too! As I hand over to my successor, inevitably there is a gaze forward as well as back. And as I consider the future of energy here in Europe and globally, it strikes me that, far from calmer waters ahead, politicians in my home continent will likely face ever-growing tempests as we try to progress to a much lower-carbon future. And there is little evidence of adequate appetite to make the strategic, and often political
Also in this section
4 March 2026
The continent’s inventories were already depleted before conflict erupted in the Middle East, causing prices to spike ahead of the crucial summer refilling season
4 March 2026
The US president has repeatedly promised to lower gasoline prices, but this ambition conflicts with his parallel aim to increase drilling and could be upended by his war against Iran
4 March 2026
With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed following US-Israel strikes and Iran’s retaliatory escalation, Fujairah has become the region’s critical pressure release valve—and is now under serious threat
3 March 2026
The killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in US–Israeli strikes marks the most serious escalation in the region in decades and a bigger potential threat to the oil market than the start of the Russia-Ukraine crisis






