Energy production must be more inclusive and affordable, in both urban and rural areas

The conference on energy affordability held by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the European Commission stressed the need for the active participation of as much of the population as possible. Households, vulnerable citizens and SMEs, including those in rural areas, must become the primary players in the energy transition.

The EU must be able to produce energy in a more inclusive and affordable way, and European people must be able to play an active role, including in rural areas.

These are the main highlights of the conference on Delivering affordable energy in Europe, jointly hosted by the EESC’s Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN) and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER) in Brussels on 11 June 2025.

The event emphasised that the European Union can achieve affordable energy by focusing on three aspects: consumer engagement, protection for vulnerable people and sustainable investment. More specifically, it underlined the importance of:

• developing innovative solutions aimed at promoting an active role for all consumers, referring specifically to the game-changing role of energy communities; this kind of engagement has untapped potential which is essential for achieving a faster and more effective green transition;
• protecting vulnerable consumers and low-income households by finding the most suitable options for ensuring basic energy consumption, effective inclusion and access to essential services for people on low incomes;
• meeting investment needs and potentially creating EU tools to fund the green transition while improving energy security and affordability, in light of the European Commission’s Affordable Energy Action Plan.

Energy poverty is still a concern in the EU

Energy poverty remains a major concern for Europeans, even though in 2024, thanks to EU measures, the number of Europeans unable to keep their homes adequately warm fell for the first time since 2021. According to Eurostat, in 2024 energy poverty impacted 9.2% of Europeans, down from 10.6% in 2023, 9.3% in 2022 and 6.9% in 2021.

To try to protect vulnerable consumers from electricity disconnection, the European Commission presented the Affordable Energy Action Plan in February 2025, as part of the Clean Industrial Deal. The plan focuses on decreasing energy prices for citizens, businesses and communities across the EU and proposes a series of measures to lower energy bills, fast-track cost-saving and step up structural reforms for our energy system.

The EESC has been working on these issues for a long time and has held an annual conference since 2021 to take stock of the situation:

• Affordable Energy: Turning civil society views into action (2024)
• Tackling energy poverty for a just transition (2023)
• Tackling energy poverty at the heart of the ecological and energy transition (2022)
• Energy poverty at the crossroads of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the European Green Deal (2021)

The detailed conclusions of this year’s conference – the EESC’s fifth annual event on energy poverty – will be published on the EESC website shortly.

Quotes from speakers

‘Thanks to joint and increased efforts, the share of Europeans experiencing energy poverty finally declined in 2024. However, over 41 million of our fellow citizens still cannot keep their homes adequately warm. Electricity prices, although lower than during the crisis, remain two to four times higher than those in our partner countries. This continues to put pressure on households and poses a real threat to the long-term competitiveness of European industry. The challenge is far from over, and our resolve must remain strong.’

Aurel Laurenţiu Plosceanu, Vice-President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in charge of Communication

‘People at risk of poverty or social exclusion are confronted with disproportionate challenges in accessing energy. In recent years, the vulnerability of our energy system has become more than evident. Our aim is to boost Europe’s strategic autonomy and competitiveness and achieve a greener and more sustainable economy and society. We are committed to developing a strategy for affordable, secure and sustainable energy that promotes the active role of consumers and ensures fairness for the most vulnerable.’

Baiba Miltoviča, President of the Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN), EESC

‘To make the energy transition real for all Europeans, we need to tackle energy poverty, empower consumers and ensure energy affordability for all. The Citizens Energy Package will address these challenges. All players, including the Commission, the EESC, market players and consumer organisations, need to work together to make it a success story. I hope that today’s conference can make an important contribution to this process.’

Rosalinde Van Der Vlies, Director of DG ENER.B, European Commission