An Irish minister works to convince European energy leaders to break an economic link with oil during a conference in Luxembourg. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI June 11 (UPI) — A European economy that’s self-sufficient in energy and low-carbon could be shielded against the shock of higher crude oil prices, an Irish minister said. Minister Denis Naughten told European energy ministers in Luxembourg that the European economy should break its link to oil in order to ensure long-term sustainability. “Presently we see the Eurozone economy beginning to slow down as a direct result of rising oil prices,” he said in his prepared remarks released by email. “We must decouple economic growth from oil availability and price.” The price for Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, was trading around $76 per barrel early Monday, about 60 percent higher than this time last year. Speaking in May , Angel Gurria , […]