EU's Russian energy exit is faltering, auditors warn

EU auditors told Reuters that the bloc's drive to exit Russian energy is faltering. The finding lands at a sensitive moment: the EU's REPowerEU programme aims to eliminate Russian fossil fuel dependence, but the audit suggests execution is lagging the stated ambition.

The warning from auditors compounds supply-side pressure already visible in the German zone. A lobby group told Reuters that Germany risks a winter gas shortage because storage levels are too low. Storage fills directly into power prices through gas-fired dispatch, so any shortfall this autumn will show up in baseload spreads across the Central Western European region.

On the regulatory side, France's Soren is running a separate but policy-relevant process: a call for companies to develop recycling solutions for CdTe and CIGS thin-film PV modules, with proposals due 21 October 2026. The first batch is 1,300 tonnes of CdTe modules, with volumes projected to rise sharply through 2037. The tender reflects France's obligations under the EU WEEE framework as installed solar capacity ages.