Longer term, the biggest challenge for the EU will be to accommodate the disruptions that are or will be occurring as a result of the digital revolution, Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission’s vice president for Energy Union said in an interview with ICIS, Trend reports.

He pointed out that developments in the area of robotics, artificial intelligence, clean mobility or smart grids would lead to more decentralisation, including in the energy sector, stressing the need for inter-sector cooperation.

"To manage this well, we need to think about people much more - to have a workforce in Europe that is adapted to the new challenges. I am constantly reminded that the current top ten jobs did not exist five years ago. This means there is a constant need for upskilling and upgrading.”

Sefcovic intends to remain active in EU politics when the new commission is formed later this year.

"We need to develop knowledge to be prepared for a new world,” he said.