Europe's energy conundrum is caused by Germany (Gerhard Schroder to be exact, ex-leader of SPD in case you're wondering, currently paid very well by Putin's Gazprom and special guest at Putin's 74th birthday party earlier this year, and continued by Angela Merkel, who was also invited but at least had the good sense not to attend) essentially forcing Europe to switch to Russian natural gas. Now the gas distribution networks, are being dismantled at a cost of about some 400 euros per European. The increase in energy prices is costing at least 3000 per year per European, and while the Iran was is 25% responsible for that, Russia is 75% responsible.
Europe's economy was betting on China as an export market and inflation-stopper. That was another choice essentially forced on Europe by Germany, and another bafflingly stupid choice. THAT choice by Germany (again under Angela Merkel), not AI, not the Iran war, not even Russia-Ukraine is the big reason jobs are disappearing in the EU.
And Europe's defense was betting on US ... despite US objecting to that since at least 2006 (Bush Jr was president at the time). Now Europe is refusing to pay for it's defense (Europe's "help" to Ukraine is really overwhelmingly loans, not actual help). Europe is also spending 900 billion dollars per year until at least 2030 on things that are intended to not help anyone and destroy economy and lives. And in case you think "refusing to spend" doesn't make sense, that's because it's all Europe lending from international markets at huge interest rates, guaranteeing that all Europeans pay MORE for this in the future. In case you're wondering 900 billion divided by 500 million EU citizens is another 2000 per year in extra taxes that's coming. But no worries: you're not being taxed extra for it yet, only the interest on it.
EU's current difficulties are all self-inflicted choices from 10 years ago. A democrat congress will do less than nothing to change this.