Commission publishes an assessment report on National Energy and Climate Plans

Today the Commission adopted the State of the Energy Union Report 2020 and its accompanying documents, which focus on different aspects of EU energy policy. This year’s report is the first since the adoption of the European Green Deal and it considers the Energy Union’s contribution to Europe’s long-term climate goals.

The individual assessments of the 27 National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) analyse each Member State’s path and ambition towards meeting the current climate and energy targets for 2030. The overall assessment shows that Member States are capable of meeting these targets and that most are making good progress towards them.

Energy policies, the key to our recovery

The report also highlights how the energy sector can contribute to the EU’s recovery from the economic crisis caused by COVID-19. So far, the Energy Union has proven its resilience in the face of the challenges that the pandemic poses to our energy systems and our energy workers.

Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, said: “The energy sector plays a crucial role in cutting emissions and delivering the European Green Deal. Today’s State of the Energy Union Report shows the progress we are making as well as challenges and opportunities ahead. The investments and reforms we put in place need to drive the green recovery and put us on the right track for becoming climate-neutral by 2050.”

For her part, Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson pointed out that national energy and climate plans are an essential tool for Member States to plan policies and investments in favour of green and fair transition: “Now is the time to turn these plans into reality and use them to lead us out of the Covid-19 crisis with new jobs and a more competitive Energy Union.”

Energy from five dimensions

The report addresses the five different dimensions of the Energy Union:

1. decarbonisation, including renewable energy;
2. energy efficiency;
3. energy security;
4. the internal energy market;
5. research, innovation and competitiveness.

The report provides guidance on the rapid implementation of the NECPs and on how energy-related investments and reforms can boost the EU’s economic recovery. It also highlights how the Next Generation EU recovery plan can help Member States through a series of flagship funding programmes.

For example, the report includes an analysis of renewable progress across the EU, it shows that the performance of Member States differ, while Denmark, Estonia or Sweden have overbitten their objective, some countries such as France, Poland, Netherlands or Slovenia are lagging behind.

Analysis of energy subsidies

This year’s State of the Energy Union report is accompanied for the first time by an analysis of energy subsidies, which points to a clear need for better data on energy subsidies and for efforts to reduce those that support the production and consumption of fossil fuels. A clean energy competitiveness report has been already published, showing that EU industry has succeeded in seizing the opportunities of the transition to clean energy. The sector is outperforming conventional energy technologies in terms of added value, labour productivity and employment growth. The Commission has also adopted progress reports on the internal energy market, energy prices and costs, energy efficiency and renewable energy.