Global Annual Energy Meeting

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 | Esade Madrid (C/ Valle de la Fuenfría, 28034, Madrid)

In a context marked by heightened geopolitical tensions, persistent energy market volatility, and growing pressure on Europe’s industrial competitiveness, the European Union faces the challenge of consolidating a more secure, resilient, and sustainable energy model. Since the 2022 energy crisis, energy policy has moved to the centre of Europe’s strategic agenda, no longer understood solely as a climate or market issue, but as a core dimension of economic security, industrial strength, and geopolitical autonomy.

Within this framework, the acceleration of renewables, electrification, energy efficiency, and grid investment has become essential to reducing Europe’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and strengthening its capacity to respond to external shocks. At the same time, Europe must ensure that the energy transition supports affordable energy, industrial competitiveness, and long-term resilience in an increasingly fragmented international environment.

The fourteenth edition of the Global Annual Energy Meeting, organised by EsadeGeo in collaboration with the Representation of the European Commission in Spain, addressed these challenges under the title Powering Europe’s Future: Energy, Competitiveness and Security. The event brought together senior European policymakers, business leaders, and experts to examine how Europe can align its energy transition with the imperatives of competitiveness, security of supply, and strategic autonomy.

The conference featured a keynote address by Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, who reflected on the lessons of the 2022 energy crisis and the need to advance towards a more integrated, clean, and secure European energy system. His intervention highlighted the importance of reducing fossil fuel dependence, accelerating the deployment of renewable energy, and reinforcing electrification as central pillars of Europe’s future energy strategy.

The event was opened by Javier Solana, President of EsadeGeo’s Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics, and Nikos Isaris, Deputy Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Spain. Following the keynote, Commissioner Jørgensen took part in a discussion moderated by Ángel Saz-Carranza, Director of EsadeGeo, focused on the strategic choices facing Europe as it seeks to reconcile decarbonisation, affordability, competitiveness, and security in an uncertain geopolitical landscape. The meeting reaffirmed the role of energy policy as a central pillar of Europe’s economic resilience, industrial future, and long-term strategic autonomy.