Fair procedures and dialogue with local communities will make Europeans aware of the benefits of the energy transition, motivating them to participate in it, says the EESC in an opinion adopted at the March plenary session.

Building mutual trust with all stakeholders is essential to making the energy and low-carbon transition socially acceptable, stressed the EESC in its opinion "What conditions are needed for the energy and low-carbon transition to be socially acceptable?". 

"All energy transition-related measures require open communication and full participation as early on in the project development phase as possible and at all appropriate levels, from the EU to local government," said rapporteur Arnaud Schwartz.

Co-rapporteur Jean Coulon said: "Support from civil society is extremely important to secure the community's ownership, as local organisations can contribute to the public debate more easily and use scientific data to fight any false ideas that might circulate."

The European Union needs the energy transition because it is cleaner and individually and collectively fairer. It will also be cheaper for citizens in the long term. However, it requires individual and collective changes and, in the short term, decarbonising may entail higher costs for producers and higher prices for consumers.

It is therefore key that the population and all stakeholders strengthen their mutual trust and accept the transformation and its technical changes, from planning to implementation. To achieve this, the process has to be independent, transparent and inclusive, information provided should be of a high quality and easily accessible, and decision-makers should be accountable. (mp)