On Thursday 30 May, at the Energy Council (see EUROPE 13418/17), the European Commission will present national delegations with an information note on the state of play of the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP).
Set out in the Governance Regulation, these serve to ensure the predictability and monitoring of the EU’s climate and energy objectives for 2030, such as a collective reduction in energy consumption of at least 11.7% and a share of energy from renewable sources of at least 42.5% in the Union’s gross final consumption.
However, the Commission’s assessment of the updated draft NECPs, published on 19 December 2023 (see EUROPE 13317/5), highlights a lack of ambition, with a gap of 5.9 percentage points for the 2030 energy efficiency target and a gap of between 3.2 and 3.9 percentage points for the renewable energy target.
This assessment also revealed that, as we emerge from the energy crisis, the energy security dimension should be given greater emphasis, with appropriate policies and measures to eliminate dependence on Russian fossil fuels as quickly as possible.
The final updated NECPs are expected by 30 June 2024. Since the publication of its assessment in December, the Commission has intensified bilateral contacts with the Member States, in particular through specialised technical meetings and high-level meetings.
The Commission’s final assessment could lead it to propose additional measures to ensure the collective achievement of objectives and targets in the event of insufficient ambition, in accordance with Article 31 of the Governance Regulation.
The Commission is therefore calling on all Member States to “present final updated plans that are commensurate to the agreed level of ambition, underpinning them with the necessary policies and measures. Timely, robust and comprehensive plans will be absolutely decisive to collectively deliver on the Energy Union objectives and targets under the ‘Fit for 55’ package, the European Climate Law and the Union’s contribution to the Paris Agreement”.
To see the information note: https://aeur.eu/f/cej (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)