The national energy and climate plans (NECPs) were introduced by the Regulation on the governance of the energy union and climate action (EU)2018/1999, agreed as part of the Clean energy for all Europeans package which was adopted in 2019.
The national plans outline how the EU countries intend to address the 5 dimensions of the energy union:
- decarbonisation
- energy efficiency
- energy security
- internal energy market
- research, innovation and competitiveness
This approach requires a coordination of purpose across all government departments and it provides a level of planning that will ease public and private investment.
The process
Under the governance regulation Member States had to submit their draft NECPs for the period 2021-2030 to the Commission by 31 December 2018. These were analysed by the Commission with an overall assessment and country-specific recommendations published in June 2019. Taking these recommendations into account, Member States were then required to submit their final NECPs by 31 December 2019.
On 17 September 2020, the Commission published a detailed EU-wide assessment of the final NECPs. As a follow-up, and as part of the 2020 energy union report, the Commission published individual assessments of each of the national plans for further guidance.
Each country must submit a progress report every 2 years, according to the structure, format, technical details and process set out in the Implementing Regulation. The Commission will, as part of the state of the energy union report, monitor the EU's progress as a whole towards achieving these targets.
To better develop and implement the plans, the Member States were required to consult citizens, businesses and regional authorities in the drafting and finalisation process.
The governance regulation also required Member States to submit by the start of 2020 national long term strategies looking forward to 2050.
Updating the plans 2023
By 30 June 2023, Member States will submit to the Commission draft updated NECPs in line with article 14 of the Governance Regulation. The Commission has published guidance to Member States on the process and scope of this update.
Final NECPs
The list below links to the final integrated national energy and climate plans for 2021 to 2030, as submitted by Member States. It also links to the European Commission’s individual assessment of each NECP.
NECP 2021-2030, original in Lithuanian, English version
EC’s individual assessment (SWD/2020/914) in Lithuanian or English
NECP 2021-2030, original in Portuguese, English version
EC’s individual assessment (SWD/2020/921) in Portuguese or English
* The UK left the EU on 1 February 2020, and the transition period agreed upon in the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement finished on 31 December 2020. However, as it was subject to EU legislation during the Brexit transition, the UK submitted their NECP shortly before the end of 2020.
Documents