Globally, clean renewable energy currently attracts twice as much investment as fossil fuels, Pentus-Rosimannus noted, emphasizing that addressing climate change remains vital for Europe.

While Europe is not abandoning green policies, she welcomed the shift from excessive administrative zeal to well-considered, targeted policy.

"This aligns with the recommendations of the European Court of Auditors. The goal is not an end in itself; what matters is that the investments actually deliver a real impact," she added.

Over the past five years, climate change has caused €162 billion in damages to the European Union's economy, underscoring the urgent need for action.

"We feel it less here in Estonia, but in southern countries, increasingly frequent and extreme weather conditions are severely disrupting people's everyday lives," Pentus-Rosimannus said. "They also impact the business sector and the broader economy. This simply cannot be ignored."

She highlighted that Estonia's energy security is deeply intertwined with Europe's overall stability, relying heavily on how well the continent functions as a whole.

"I occasionally see grandiose proposals suggesting Estonia should fully return to oil shale energy. I believe that is impossible. It is not sensible, and it would be very expensive for consumers," she stated.

"Ultimately, the European Union's energy independence is what matters most for Estonia, particularly from a price perspective. I recently read an analysis comparing last winter's electricity price fluctuations in Estonia with those in Finland and Lithuania. A major differentiator is that Finland could rely on wind energy when prices in Estonia peaked. Finnish prices have remained lower because they invested heavily in wind energy and can now utilize significantly cheaper power."

According to data from energy producer Enefit, in February this year 35% of electricity consumption in Estonia was covered by local fossil fuel–based electricity generation, while 43% came from electricity imports. Wind energy covered one fifth of total electricity consumption across the Baltics in February.

Recently, Pentus-Rosimannus oversaw a special report examining the current state and outlook of economically critical raw materials in the European Union. It became one of the most widely covered reports in the Court's history, drawing 130 journalists to its launch event.

"We provided the European Commission with concrete recommendations, all of which are already being implemented," she concluded. "This is a field where we are competing globally with China—and, unfortunately, increasingly with the United States as well."

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