The EU imports more than 80% of the gas it consumes and more than 95% of the oil it consumes.

Omissions

• The MEP did not cite a specific time period. The most recent official Eurostat data (2024) confirms both figures.
• For natural gas, a primary Eurostat source for the 2024 import dependency rate was not located within search limits. The gas figure is supported by a secondary source (Strategic Perspectives, citing 89% for 2025) and corroborated by older Eurostat data (83% in 2021).
• The MEP used conservative thresholds ('more than 80%' for gas); the actual gas import dependency rate is considerably higher at approximately 89%.
• The overall energy import dependency rate for the EU was 57% in 2024 — the high rates cited apply specifically to oil and gas, not to all energy sources.

Sources

• PrimaryEurostat Statistics Explained — Oil and petroleum productsIn 2024, the EU's import dependency was 96.6% which is 1.7% higher compared to 2023. The dependency on foreign oil had been slowly growing from the lower rates seen in the 2010s.
• PrimaryEurostat — Energy in Europe: imports dependency (News article)In 2024, the main energy product category imported was oil and petroleum products, with an import dependency rate of 96.6%. The energy imports dependency rate in the EU was 57%, meaning nearly 60% of the EU's energy needs were met by net imports.
• SecondaryStrategic Perspectives — EU Gas InsightThe European Union (EU) is highly dependent on gas imports, with 89% of its supply in 2025 coming from outside the EU.