In a new report published on Monday 27 May, the climate change think-tank E3G and the CEE Bankwatch network of environmental organisations propose possible solutions to support the energy transition in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which are considered to be “lagging behind” in the EU’s transition to clean energy.
The report analyses the progress made in eight Central and Eastern European countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia) over the last five years.
It points out that the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) has played an important role in reducing dependence on fossil fuels, particularly coal, in this region, which accounts for a total of 17% of the EU’s electricity demand. Private households with wind and solar power installations have also contributed to the growth in renewable energies.
The report does, however, recognise a number of obstacles to their deployment, such as the continuing high dependence on fossil gas in some countries and strong political support for nuclear power.
The report recommends that, in the run-up to the European elections and the Hungarian and Polish Presidencies of the EU Council, the new EU mandate should support the region’s energy transition, in particular by strengthening social measures to improve access for low-income households to alternatives to fossil fuels and to remedy the labour shortage in clean industries.
It also focuses on investment in networks, a stronger local supply chain, the involvement of civil society and the development of technical assistance.
To see the report: https://aeur.eu/f/cdx (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)