Speaker: Jens Geier (SPD member of the EU Parliament)
May 22, 2023, 18:00-19:30 (JST)
Room 407, Building 6, Sophia University Yotsuya Campus
In Person Only, No registration required
The illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine has forced the European Union (EU) to confront its reliance on Russian energy supplies. In 2020, 25% of the EU’s total energy came from Russia, some EU countries being almost completely dependent on Russian gas and oil. Unwilling to be dependent of a war-mongering Russian regime, EU leaders decided seek greater energy independence. German Member of the European Parliament Jens Geier of the Social Democratic Party will discuss the impact of the Russian war in Ukraine on the EU's energy policies, the measures taken, and the challenges ahead. Geier will explore the opportunities presented by a shift towards renewable energy, the need for greater energy efficiency, and the political and economic implications of reducing reliance on Russia's energy supply. Geier will argue that the EU must prioritize security of supply and climate neutrality in order to safeguard its strategic interests and contribute to a sustainable future.
Jens Geier is a Social Democratic Party (SPD) Member of the European Parliament since 2009. He leads the SPD members in the European Parliament and serves on the Industry, Research and Energy committee, as well as the Budget committee. Prior to his political career, Geier worked on real estate projects for the public sector with innova AG and Deloitte. He also served as a project manager and spokesperson at Projekt Ruhr GmbH and worked for the bureau of the SPD. Geier studied history, literature, and political science at Ruhr-University Bochum. He was born in Frankfurt (Main) and raised in Essen.
This talk is organized by Sven Saaler (Professor of History, FLA) and Supported by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)
Photo by Gustavo Fring via Pexels:https://www.pexels.com/ja-jp/photo/4254160/