Europe’s single market is widely regarded as the jewel in the crown of EU integration. However, the energy crisis of 2022 showed that its electricity and gas markets remain fragmented, exposing the bloc to economic and security risks.

Cracks are felt in the day-to-day work of producers, traders, suppliers and end consumers as they struggle with complex red tape and high costs.

ICIS highlighted some of these challenges in a recent white paper. A report published by Energy Traders Europe on 24 February highlights the constraints and the possible solutions to deepening the EU electricity and gas markets.

As the need to create an Energy Union is now at the top of policymakers’ agenda, ICIS reporter Aura Sabadus speaks to Mark Copley, CEO of Energy Traders Europe, and ICIS EU policy expert, Gretchen Ransow, about solutions to achieve consistency and alignment across the bloc and with neighbouring countries.

Lithuania’s offshore Klaipeda LNG terminal had a record year in 2025, with the port’s utilisation rate soaring well above the EU average. Operator KN Energies anticipates an even better year in 2026. It has launched an open season for long-term capacity and is expecting more central and eastern European companies to use its services as they are looking for a diversity of sources and routes. Although traders are incentivised by Klaipeda’s ease of doing business and transparency, they also flag limitations related to regional market liquidity and high regional transmission tariffs. In this interview, Darius Silenskis, CEO of KN Energies, tells ICIS reporter Aura Sabadus about the company’s short and long-term plans and its role in supporting market liquidity.

The EU’s biomethane market has been developing at speed.

Since 2023, production has risen more than 30% and the fuel is fast becoming not just an instrument to reach energy transition targets but is also making a real contribution to security of supply.

A number of western European countries including France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the UK are leading the way thanks to their extensive agricultural sectors and well designed subsidies schemes.

However, building a single pan-European market is still a distant dream.

ICIS energy news editor Andrea Battaglia tells senior reporter Aura Sabadus about the merits of this emerging sector but also the challenges that are slowing down progress.