| Abstract | The paper written by Bence Bereczki (Budapest University of Technology and Economics) entitled "Bohemian Rhapsody: Dancing with Dependency – Impacts of Lex OZE III on Czech Energy Security and Renewable Investments" was published by the Hungarian Europe Society on 5 May 2025. Surveying the downstream effects of recent changes to subsidies for renewable energy sources (RES) in Czechia, Bereczki found - contrary to the tenor of much recent commentaries - success in ending Russian gas imports is very fragile. Cuts to RES subsidies – along with other factors, such as the decarbonisation of the heating sector – are likely to encourage the expanded use of natural gas as a transition fuel, making a return to Russian gas imports and the attendant strategic dependence significantly more likely. These cuts, touted by the Czech government as fiscally responsible, are weighed against Czechia’s stated strategic goals and they are clearly deleterious. The brief recommends that Czechia correct course to avoid heading down a path of greater reliance on fossil fuels, strategically high-risk fuel imports, and a complicated decarbonisation trajectory.
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Bence Bereczki - Bohemian Rhapsody: Dancing with Dependency