Reassessing the EU’s LNG Import Expansion

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 exposed Europe’s structural de-pendence on Russian gas and underscored the security dimension of energy policy. In response, EU member states rapidly expanded their LNG infrastructure from 2,780 to 3,480 TWh/a by 2024 through pub-lic investment and regulatory flexibility. While this ensured a suffi-cient short-term supply, it risks locking in long-term fossil gas de-pendencies, challenging the attainment of the EU’s climate goals. This article addresses whether and to what extent the LNG expan-sion was necessary for EU energy security, and how current and planned infrastructure affects regional resilience—particularly in Eastern and Southeastern Europe—in light of risks like fossil lock-in, stranded assets, and energy poverty.