Clean energy for all Europeans package

In 2019 the EU completed a comprehensive update of its energy policy framework to facilitate the transition away from fossil fuels towards cleaner energy and to deliver on the EU’s Paris Agreement commitments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The agreement on this new energy rulebook – called the Clean energy for all Europeans package - marked a significant step towards the implementation of the energy union strategy, published in 2015.

Based on Commission proposals published in November 2016, the Clean energy for all Europeans package consists of eight legislative acts. Following the political agreement by the Council and the European Parliament (between May 2018 and May 2019) and the entry into force of the different EU rules, EU countries have 1-2 years to transpose the new directives into national law.

The new rules will bring considerable benefits from a consumer perspective, from an environmental perspective, and from an economic perspective. By coordinating these changes at EU level the legislation also underlines EU leadership in tackling global warming and provides an important contribution to the EU’s long-term strategy of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.   

Energy performance in buildings

Buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of energy consumption and 36% of CO2 emissions in the EU, making them the single largest energy consumer in Europe.

By improving energy performance in buildings, the EU can more readily achieve its energy and climate goals. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive ((EU 2018/844) outlines specific measures for the building sector to tackle challenges, updating and amending many provisions from the Directive 2010/31/EU.

Renewable energy

With a view to showing global leadership on renewables, the EU has set an ambitious, binding target of 32% for renewable energy sources in the EU’s energy mix by 2030.

The recast Renewable Energy Directive (2018/2001/EU) entered into force in December 2018.

Energy efficiency

Putting energy efficiency first is a key objective in the package, as energy savings are the easiest way of saving money for consumers and for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The EU has therefore set binding targets of at least 32.5% energy efficiency by 2030, relative to a ‘business as usual’ scenario.

The amending Directive on Energy Efficiency ((EU) 2018/2002) has been in place since December 2018.

Governance regulation

The package includes a robust governance system for the energy union, under which each Member State is required to establish integrated 10-year national energy and climate plans (NECPs) for 2021 to 2030. Based on a common structure the NECPs outline how EU countries will achieve their respective targets on all dimensions of the energy union, including a longer-term view towards 2050.

The Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action (EU) 2018/1999 is in force since December 2018.

Electricity market design

A further part of the package seeks to establish a modern design for the EU electricity market, adapted to the new realities of the market – more flexible, more market-oriented and better placed to integrate a greater share of renewables.

The electricity market design elements consist of four dossiers - a new electricity regulation, and amending electricity directive, risk preparedness and a regulation outlining a stronger role for the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER).

Adoption process for the legal acts

The different steps in the adoption process for each of the eight dossiers are shown in the table below: it contains links to the respective adoption documents and press releases announcing the political agreements.

Open or close table