Central and Eastern European countries are setting low targets in their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), raising concerns about the region's ability to meet EU climate goals, climate policy advocates warn. NECPs are a fundamental element of the EU's climate policy architecture, as they outline in detail how each country plans to achieve the shared targets agreed upon at the European level.

Only three EU countries – Spain, Croatia and Slovenia – have met the EU's annual deadline of 30 June for submitting updated National Energy and Climate Plans. However, it is already clear that Central and Eastern European member states are failing to meet the requirements set by the EU, according to a new report prepared by the green activist group CEE Bankwatch Network.

NECP reports in some countries, such as Slovakia, where data is lacking, are not always taken seriously, the report states. With the onset of the war in Ukraine, many have returned to old habits, supporting the consumption of gas and coal rather than renewable energy sources. This trend is particularly evident in Central and Eastern European countries, where measures have been taken to slow the transition away from fossil fuels, retreat from previous commitments, or even de facto re-carbonise the economy, the report says.

The CEE Bankwatch study echoes warnings from the European Court of Auditors (ECA); the Court published a report this week stating that EU countries have submitted vague plans for decarbonising their economies and risk failing to meet their joint climate goals.
https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/eastern-eu-countries-veering-away-from-2030-climate-goals-report-says/
https://bankwatch.org/publication/national-energy-and-climate-plans-catalysts-for-the-energy-transition-or-box-ticking-exercises