(1)

Belgium submitted its draft updated integrated national energy and climate plan (NECP) on 30 November 2023. Due to the late submission of Belgium’s draft updated national energy and climate plan, the European Commission was not in a position to adopt this recommendation six months before the final updated national energy and climate plans are due, as required by Article 9(2) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.

(2)

Article 3 and Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 (‘the Governance Regulation’) lay down the elements that are to be included in the updated integrated national energy and climate plans. In December 2022, the Commission adopted guidance to Member States on the process and scope of preparing the draft and final updated national energy and climate plans (2). The guidance identified good practices and outlined the implications of recent policy, legal and geopolitical developments in energy and climate policies.

(3)

In connection with REPowerEU plan (3), and as part of the 2022 and 2023 European Semester cycles, the Commission has put a strong focus on Member States’ energy and climate related reform and investment needs to strengthen energy security and affordability by accelerating the green and fair transition. This is reflected in the 2022 and 2023 Country Reports (4) for Belgium and the Council Recommendations (5) to Belgium. Member States should take into account the latest country-specific recommendations in their final updated integrated national energy and climate plans.

(4)

The Commission’s recommendations with regard to the delivery of national targets under the Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6) (Effort Sharing Regulation – ESR) are based on the likelihood that the Member States will respect the 2030 targets, taking into account the rules for the use of flexibilities under the ESR.

(5)

The Commission’s recommendations regarding Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) aim at having an overview of the intended deployment of these technologies at national level, including information about annual volumes of CO2 planned to be captured by 2030, split by source of CO2 captured coming from installations covered by Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (7) or from other sources, such as biogenic sources or direct air capture; about planned CO2 transport infrastructure; and about potential domestic CO2 storage capacity and injection volumes of CO2 planned to be available in 2030.

(6)

The Commission’s recommendations regarding the performance under the Regulation (EU) 2018/841 of the European Parliament and of the Council (8) (Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry Regulation – ‘LULUCF Regulation’) address the delivery by the Member State on the ‘no debit’ rule for the period 2021-2025 (Period 1) and its national target for the period 2026-2030 (Period 2), taking into account the rules governing the use of flexibilities as set out in that Regulation. The Commission’s recommendations also take into account that in Period 1 any excess in emissions under the LULUCF Regulation will automatically be transferred to the ESR.

(7)

For climate adaptation to properly support the achievement of energy and climate mitigation objectives, it is essential to identify the potential climate change hazards and analyse climate vulnerabilities and risks that may affect relevant areas, populations and sectors. The Commission’s recommendations on adaptation consider the extent to which Belgium integrated in its updated NECP adaptation goals that account for climate risks, that could prevent Belgium from meeting the objectives and targets of the Energy Union. Without specific adaptation policies and measures, planned and implemented, the achievement of objectives in Energy Union dimensions is at risk. Water management in changing climatic conditions requires particular attention due to risks of electricity disruption as floods, heat and drought impact the energy production.

(8)

The Commission’s recommendations regarding Belgium’s renewable energy ambition are based on the formula set out in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, which is based on objective criteria, and on the main policies and measures missing in Belgium’s draft updated plan to enable a timely and cost-effective achievement of Belgium’ national contribution to the Union’s binding renewable energy target of at least 42,5 % in 2030, with the collective endeavour to increase it to 45 % pursuant to Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council (9) as regards the promotion of energy from renewable sources and as amended by Directive (EU) 2023/2413 of the European Parliament and of the Council (10). The Commission’s recommendations are also based on Belgium’s contribution to the specific targets of Articles 15a, 22a, 23, 24 and 25 of that Directive and the related policies and measures to rapidly transpose it and implement it. The recommendations reflect the importance of developing comprehensive long-term planning for the deployment of renewable energy, and in particular wind, to increase visibility for the European manufacturing industry and grid operators in line with the European Wind Power Package (11).

(9)

The Commission’s recommendations regarding the national contribution to energy efficiency are based on Article 4 of the Directive (EU) 2023/1791 of the European Parliament and of the Council (12) on energy efficiency; and the formula in Annex I to that Directive, and the related policies and measures to implement it.

(10)

The Commission’s recommendations pay particular attention to the targets, objectives and contributions and related policies and measures to deliver on the REPowerEU plan in order to rapidly phase out dependence from Russian fossil fuels. They take into account lessons learnt from the implementation of the Save gas for a Safe winter Package (13). The recommendations reflect the imperative to make the energy system more resilient in light of the obligations stemming from Regulation (EU) 2019/941 of the European Parliament and of the Council (14) on risk preparedness in the electricity sector and Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 of the European Parliament and of the Council (15) on the security of gas supply in line with the Commission Recommendation on energy storage (16).

(11)

The Commission’s recommendations take into account the need to accelerate the integration of the internal energy market to strengthen the role of flexibility and empower and protect consumers. The Commission’s recommendation also considers the importance of assessing the number of households in energy poverty in line with the requirements of Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, and the Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/2407 (17).

(12)

The Commission’s recommendations reflect the importance of ensuring sufficient investments in clean energy research and innovation to boost their development and manufacturing capacities, including appropriate policies and measures for energy intensive industries and other businesses; and the need to upskill workforce for a net-zero industry in order to consolidate a strong, competitive and clean economy within the Union.

(13)

The Commission’s recommendations build on the commitments taken under the Paris Agreement to phase down the use of fossil fuels, as well as on the importance of phasing out fossil fuel subsidies.

(14)

The Commission’s recommendation on investment needs follows its assessment of whether the draft updated plan provides a general overview of investment needs to achieve the objectives, targets and contributions for all dimensions of the Energy Union; indicates the sources of financing, distinguishing private and public sources; outlines investments consistent with Belgium’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, Belgium’s Territorial Just Transition Plans and the 2022-2023 country-specific recommendations issued under the European Semester; and includes a robust macroeconomic assessment of planned policies and measures. The NECP should ensure the transparency and predictability of national policies and measures, to support investment certainty.

(15)

The Commission’s recommendations reflect the crucial importance of a wide regional consultation and of ensuring early and inclusive consultation on the plan, including effective public participation with sufficient information and timeframe, in line with the Aarhus Convention (18).

(16)

The Commission’s recommendations on just transition reflect the assessment of whether the Belgium’s plan identifies in sufficient depth the relevant social, employment and skills impacts of the climate and energy transition and outlines adequate accompanying policies and measures to promote a just transition, while contributing to the promotion of both human rights and gender equality.

(17)

The Commission’s recommendations to Belgium are underpinned by the assessment of its draft updated NECP (19), which is published alongside this Recommendation.

(18)

Belgium should take due account of the present recommendations when developing its final updated integrated NECP to be submitted by 30 June 2024.