Eurostat figures show that the energy consumption in the EU fell by 6% between 2008 and 2011. The largest falls were recorded in Lithuania, Ireland, Greece, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom. The energy dependence rate was 54% in the EU in 2011, nearly stable since 2008.

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, published its figures with regard to the energy consumption and energy dependence rate in the EU. According to Eurostat, the economic slowdown observed in the EU since the beginning of the financial crisis is also visible in the evolution of energy consumption. Between 2008 and 2011, energy consumption in the EU has decreased by 6%. Twenty-three Member States registered decreases in their energy consumption between 2008 and 2011. The largest falls were recorded in Lithuania (-24.5%), Ireland and Greece (both -12.3%), Romania (-10.2%), Spain and the United Kingdom (both -9.4%). In January 2012, the Commission reported that the economic outlook for EU industry was deteriorated in the previous months.

With regard to the energy dependence rate, which is defined as net imports (imports minus exports) divided by gross consumption, expressed as a percentage, it was 54% in the EU in 2011, nearly stable since 2008. In 2011, the Member States the least dependent on energy imports were Estonia (12%), Romania (21%), the Czech Republic (29%), the Netherlands (30%), Poland (34%) and the United Kingdom (36%). Denmark (-9%) was a net exporter of energy and therefore had a negative dependence rate. The highest energy dependence rates were registered in Malta (101%), Luxembourg (97%), Cyprus (93%) and Ireland (89%).

The five largest energy consumers in 2011 in the EU were Germany (316 mn toe, -7.7% compared with 2008), France (260 mn toe, -4.6%), the United Kingdom (199 mn toe, -9.4%), Italy (173 mn toe, -4.8%) and Spain (129 mn toe, -9.4%), which together accounted for nearly two thirds of total EU consumption.