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The updated National Energy and Climate Plans, NECPs show that the green agenda is a vital way to modernize national political economies being still an ambitious EU-wide long-term target. New Commission’s initiatives are aimed at innovative actions to deepen states’ capacities to deliver 55% in reducing net greenhouse gas emissions and creating conditions to reach 90% by 2040. Competitiveness, security, wealth creation and inclusiveness depend on the states’ moving forward along a consistent and comprehensive action plan.
Background
The Governance Regulation of the Energy Union and Climate Action*) requires the EU states to regularly submit NECPs, outlining how they intend to meet the 2030 climate and energy targets and Energy Union objectives. These are critical to deliver a fair, resilient and climate-neutral Europe, as well as to steer the much-needed investments for the climate and energy transition. They were first finalised in 2020 but needed to be updated to take account of the agreed 2030 legislative package and targets, so called “Fit-for-55” package.
On “fit-for-55” package in: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_4754
*) Note. Under the Governance Regulation, the EU member states have to develop integrated national energy and climate plans (NECPs) based on a common template. These plans cover the five dimensions of the Energy Union: – decarbonisation (greenhouse gas reduction and renewables); – energy security; – energy efficiency; – internal energy market; and – research, innovation and competitiveness.
More on regulation in: https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/climate-strategies-targets/governance-energy-union-and-climate-action_en
Updated NECPs were due by 30 June 2023; then, the Commission published in December 2023 an EU-wide assessment, accompanied by country-specific assessments and recommendations. Taking these recommendations into account, the member states were then required to submit their final NECPs by 30 June 2024. Presently published package of measures includes an EU-wide assessment and a Staff Working Document, with the individual assessment of 23 national plans and guidance to facilitate implementation.
NECPs as a governance tool will be finally reviewed for the post-2030 period as part of the forthcoming revision of the Governance Regulation.
Commission’s assessment
Present Commission’s assessment shows that the EU is currently on course to reduce net GHG emissions by around 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, if the member states implement fully existing and planned national measures and EU policies. In the current geopolitical context, this demonstrates that the EU is staying the course on its climate commitments, investing with determination in the clean energy transition and prioritizing the EU’s industrial competitiveness and the social dimension.
Strategic initiatives such as the Clean Industrial Deal and the Affordable Energy Action Plan will complement NECPs in mobilizing investments in industrial decarbonisation and clean technology, making the best use of Europe’s homegrown renewable potential and energy efficient solutions, helping to deliver lower and more stable energy prices over time.
More information on: – Clean industrial deal in: https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/clean-industrial-deal_en. And on affordable energy action plan in: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/strategy/affordable-energy_en
The EU member states are demonstrating political resolve to reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels, improve the resilience and security of energy supplies and infrastructure, accelerate the integration of the internal energy market and support those who need it the most with investments and skills development.
The Commission’s assessment provides a solid foundation for discussions on the next steps in the EU’s decarbonisation journey towards 2040 and reaching climate neutrality by 2050; the Commission will intensify work with the states to close the remaining gaps and implement additional guidance.
Perspectives
The next EU-wide regulatory phase should focus on turning plans into action to ensure stability and predictability. This involves directing public funds to effectively support transformative investments, encouraging private investment, and coordinating efforts at both regional and European levels. The Commission will therefore continue to support Member States’ efforts in implementation and in addressing the remaining gaps.
The EU member states that have not yet submitted their final plans – Belgium, Estonia and Poland – must do so without delay. While their overall targets have been included in the EU assessment, the European Commission will review each of their plans individually soon after their formal submission. Additionally, the Commission is working on the individual assessment of Slovakia’s final NECP, which was submitted on 15 April 2025.
Conclusion
The NECPs final version shows that the EU-27 is well on track to achieve its 2030 emission target: emissions are down 37% since 1990, while the economy has grown nearly 70% while assuring that climate action, energy transformation and growth go hand in hand. Thus, presently the states have to further invest in clean technologies and innovation as an essential component for industrial competitiveness and opening new markets for EU companies. The EU-wide commitment to the clean transition gives investors clarity and strengthens Europe’s resilience and prosperity; every socio-economic sector in all EU states must contribute to deliver.
The updated NECPs have confirmed the EU and the states’ strong commitment to deliver the 2030 targets and making European energy transition a reality. The renewable energy is becoming the leading source of electricity in the EU and reducing consumers’ final energy consumption. The member states are supposed to deliver decarburization’s goals, in order to deliver clean energy, quality jobs, national growth and energy security. However, the Commission noted, the states have “to do more to fast track the benefits of the transition, cut energy demand, improve energy efficiency and ensure that these ambitions materialize while completing the EU Energy Union”.
Reference to: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_1337
Note. More comprehensive conclusions have been revealed at the remarks to press (28.05) by Executive Vice-President (EVP) Ribera and Commissioners Hoekstra and Jørgensen on the EU-wide assessment of the final NECPs.
Thus, the EVP Ribera noted that: a) the green agenda drives investment and prosperity: the states can manage the decarbonisation pathways together with boosting the capacity to create wealth (she added that the cost of inaction reached “at least €163 billion in the EU” during 2021-23); b) the states are working to achieve the full decarbonisation of the economy; hence, predictable regulation and making clear understanding of legal simplification “makes things easier and provide stability and reliability to investors”; c) science, climate action and the green agenda are good things for Europe.
Commissioner Hoekstra notes that: a) the EU is well on track to achieve the SDG-2030 targets (i.e. he EU has already reduced emissions by 37% since 1990; compared 2022 and 2023, there is an 8% reduction, confirming and speeding up the trend); b) if the EU states fully implement their plans, the EU-27 is on track to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by around 54%, just one point of the 55% target; c) the Clean Industrial Deal and the Affordable Energy Action Plan are key instruments to drive the EU-wide “green transformation”.
Commissioner Jørgensen specifies the EU energy policy’s three main objectives: – security and energy independence; – bringing down the prices to support competitiveness and to combat energy poverty, and – fighting climate change and decarbonizing the energy sector.
All references and citations from: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/da/speech_25_1353
More on the issue in Commission’s websites at: = Communication: An EU-wide assessment of the final updated NECPs; = Staff Working Document; = Questions and answers; = National energy and climate plans; = European Climate Law.