The European Union (EU) is at a crossroads amid the upcoming 2024 European elections as the unaffordable cost of living becomes a key challenge for incumbent leaders. Russia’s war in Ukraine has propelled the green energy transition forward. It followed the European Parliament’s approval of the Green Deal two years ago, which targets climate neutrality in the EU by 2050. However, the implementation of the deal has exacerbated the surge in energy prices, with both oil and gas reaching record highs in 2022, sparking controversy amidst the sharply rising cost of living across Europe. With far-rig…