"We are now on the path to energy independence. But energy bills are still a real source of anxiety for millions of Europeans," von der Leyen said. "And costs are still structurally high for industry. We know what drove prices up: dependency on Russian fossil fuels. So it is time to get rid of dirty Russian fossil fuels."
She explained that prices could be lowered through "clean, homegrown energy," urging an increase in domestic renewable production with nuclear as a baseload, alongside urgent modernization and investment in infrastructure and interconnectors across the EU.
In this context, the Commission will propose enhancing the EU's grid infrastructure and expediting permit issuance.
"I am presenting today a new initiative called Energy Highways," von der Leyen said.
She noted that eight bottlenecks in the EU's energy infrastructure have been identified for gradual resolution.
"We will bring governments and utilities together, to address all outstanding issues. Because Europeans need affordable energy right now," the Commission president concluded.