State of the Energy Union Report 2020 and Assessment of National Energy and Climate Plans

Key points:

• The EESC is relieved to learn that the energy and climate objectives for 2020 have largely been met. However, this must not lead to complacency. The objectives for the next 30 years, starting with the 2020s, are much more ambitious. The pace of transformation needs to be significantly increased, but the social and economic situation in the individual Member States should not be overlooked in the process, as this could jeopardise social acceptance of investment and reforms aimed at accelerating the energy transition.

• The most important objective that the Commission set out in the framework strategy is that citizens should be at the core of the Energy Union. In its assessment, the Commission believes that insufficient attention is paid to the development of community energy in the Member States' NECPs. Therefore, the EESC thinks that, in future reports, the Commission should more carefully analyse the level and quality of implementation, compliance and enforcement with regard to the third energy package in the Member States, in particular in terms of how they intend to put "citizens at the core".

• A critical view should also be taken with regard to three of the Energy Union's other objectives: reducing energy dependency by cutting down energy imports, eliminating subsidies for climate- and environmentally harmful energy sources, and taking a leading role in renewable energy, energy efficiency and electro-mobility. These three objectives have all been missed.