The plan sets out the main events and meetings in the implementation of European energy and climate policy in 2025, together with brief background information
Further information on European climate and energy developments can be found in the European Parliament's European Green Deal legislative timeline, the calendar of events of the Polish Presidency of the Council and the Council's press site.
1 January 2025
Poland takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU)
Topic: “Security, Europe!” is the motto of the Polish Presidency of the Council. “The Polish Presidency will support measures that strengthen European security in all its dimensions: external, internal, economic, informational, energy, food and health security,” said the Minister for European Union Affairs, Adam Szłapka.
Poland has announced that it will promote action aimed at ending imports of Russian energy resources altogether. Poland will take steps to bring down energy prices in the EU, and it will also review the EU's energy security framework in order to improve the physical security and cybersecurity of energy infrastructure in the EU and its neighbouring countries and to ensure a level playing field for the development of all clean energy sources in Europe. During its presidency Poland will also pay particular attention to agricultural matters.
The Council represents the executives of the EU member states, and the presidency “rotates” among the member states every six months. Its task is to set policy priorities, to plan and chair meetings of ministers and heads of government, and to seek agreement on legislation with the other EU law-making institutions – the European Commission and the European Parliament. Presiding member states work closely together in groups known as “trios”. Poland will work with Denmark and Cyprus.
First quarter
The European Commission presents a proposal to amend EU climate legislation
Topic: The Commission will table a legislative proposal to amend the European climate law. The Commission already in 2024 recommended that the EU cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, and it will now table a legislative proposal, which will then have to be discussed with the member states and the European Parliament. A decision will also be needed on the EU's new NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution – its climate target for 2035 under the UN rules). There is currently a debate about how the NDC should be aligned with the new 2040 target. Once the new target has been set, the EU will have to reform a large part of its energy and climate legislation so that it is fit for meeting that target.
19 February
The European Commission presents its vision for agriculture and food
Topic: Commission President U. von der Leyen has announced that within the first 100 days she will present a “Vision for Agriculture and Food” as a follow-up to the strategic dialogue on agriculture, on which a report was submitted in 2024. Building on its recommendations, the vision will look at how to secure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of Europe's agricultural sector globally.
24 February
Meeting of EU agriculture and fisheries ministers
Topic: The agriculture ministers of the EU member states meet for one of their regular annual meetings.
26 February
The European Commission presents the “Clean Industrial Deal”.
Topic: Ursula von der Leyen has promised that within the first 100 days after the Commission's approval she will present a strategy to strengthen the competitiveness of EU industry and help cut carbon dioxide emissions. The European Union is already at risk of being overtaken in the global clean technology race, while traditional industries such as steel and chemicals are struggling to keep pace with competitors in the United States and the BRICS countries.
26 February
The European Commission presents an action plan on affordable energy
Topic: Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen has been tasked with presenting, in connection with the “Clean Industrial Deal”, an “Action Plan for Affordable Energy Prices, to help lower prices for households and businesses and to support industries and companies through the transition”.
26 February
The European Commission presents its “Proposals for reform of corporate sustainability reporting”.
Topic: In November 2024, U. von der Leyen promised to draw up a package of legislative reform proposals that would ease the reporting burden on companies. The so-called “Omnibus package” is scheduled for 26 February. It is expected to include proposals to reform three key pieces of legislation: the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the EU Taxonomy Regulation.
5 March
The European Commission presents an action plan for the automotive sector.
Topic: Five weeks after the start of the strategic dialogue on the future of the automotive industry, the Commission is ready to present an action plan for the sector. Its aim is to address the problems facing the automotive industry, in particular growing competition from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers and a possible trade conflict with the United States.
6 March
Meeting of EU competitiveness ministers (European internal market and industry)
Topic: The ministers of the EU member states responsible for industry and the internal market meet for one of their regular annual meetings.
16 March
Meeting of EU energy ministers
Topic: The energy ministers of the EU member states meet for one of their regular annual meetings.
20-21 March
European Council – meeting of EU heads of state and government
Topic: The heads of state and government of the EU member states meet for one of their regular annual meetings.
24 March
Meeting of EU agriculture and fisheries ministers
Topic: The agriculture ministers of the EU member states meet for one of their regular annual meetings.
26 March
The European Commission presents a roadmap for ending imports of Russian energy
Topic: Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen has been tasked with presenting, in connection with the “Clean Industrial Deal”, a roadmap for ending imports of Russian energy.
27 March
Meeting of EU environment ministers
Topic: The environment ministers of the EU member states meet for one of their regular annual meetings.
Second quarter
The European Commission presents the European Water Resilience Strategy
Topic: From the Commission's statement: “The sustainable management of water resources is one of the greatest challenges facing Europe in connection with climate change. Floods and droughts are becoming the norm, as the tragic events in Europe in recent years show. On water resilience we will take a ‘source to sea' approach and consider the very different problems in the EU's regions and sectors, in order to ensure the proper governance of water sources, to tackle water scarcity and pollution and to increase the competitiveness of our water industry.”
24-25 April
International summit on the future of energy security, organised by the International Energy Agency (IEA)
Topic: The International Energy Agency will hold an international summit on the future of energy security at Lancaster House in London on 24 and 25 April 2025. The summit will look at the traditional and emerging risks to energy security in an era of geopolitical tension, technological change and climate change.
28 April
Meeting of EU agriculture and fisheries ministers
Topic: The agriculture ministers of the EU member states meet for one of their regular annual meetings.
May
European Union–China summit (date not yet known)
Topic: Chinese and EU officials have agreed to hold a joint government summit in 2025: “The 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations could be a good opportunity for a successful EU–China summit later this year”, the newspaper Politico notes. No date has yet been announced, but since China and the European Union established diplomatic relations on 6 May 1975, the beginning of that month is a likely time for the summit.
19 May
Topic: The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, will host the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at a summit intended to strengthen ties between the United Kingdom and the EU and to explore new opportunities for cooperation.
22 May
Meeting of EU competitiveness ministers (European internal market and industry)
Topic: The ministers of the EU member states responsible for industry and the internal market meet for one of their regular annual meetings.
26 May
Meeting of EU agriculture and fisheries ministers
Topic: The agriculture ministers of the EU member states meet for one of their regular annual meetings.
5 June
Meeting of EU transport ministers
Topic: The transport ministers of the EU member states meet for one of their regular annual meetings.
16 June
Meeting of EU energy ministers
Topic: The energy ministers of the EU member states meet for one of their regular annual meetings.
17 June
Meeting of EU environment ministers
Topic: The environment ministers of the EU member states meet for one of their regular annual meetings.
26-27 June
European Council – meeting of EU heads of state and government
Topic: The heads of state and government of the EU member states meet for one of their regular annual meetings.
30 June
Member states must submit to the Commission their social climate plans
Topic: Alongside the new emissions trading system (ETS 2) for buildings and transport, the European Union decided to set up a Social Climate Fund. It will provide targeted funding for the most vulnerable groups of people in the EU member states. All the measures and investments that governments plan to introduce will be brought together in national social climate plans, which will be drawn up and approved after consultation. Member states must submit these plans to the European Commission by 30 June 2025. The Commission will assess the plans and will make payments to member states only if the milestones and targets set out in the plans are met.
1 July
Denmark takes over the presidency of the Council of the EU
Topic: More about the presidency
Third quarter
The European Commission presents the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan
Topic: The EC will come forward with a Sustainable Transport Investment Plan – a strategic framework to support the production and distribution of sustainable transport fuels. It will include measures to support the faster roll-out of charging and refuelling infrastructure and a dedicated green trade and investment partnership with third countries in the field of renewable and low-carbon transport fuels.
In the third quarter
The European Commission presents the Pact for the Mediterranean
Topic: The creation of the post of European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, held since the end of 2024 by the Croatian politician Dubravka Šuica, is part of an effort to give the region greater prominence, since, as is well known, earlier attempts lacked momentum. Šuica has been tasked with drawing up a “New Pact for the Mediterranean”, including a “Trans-Mediterranean Energy and Clean Tech Cooperation Initiative”, in order to increase trade in renewable energy and to promote clean technology manufacturing in the region.
Fourth quarter
The European Commission presents the Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act
Topic: The Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act will support energy-intensive industries. It is devoted to simplifying legislation in order to streamline permitting, authorisations and reporting requirements and to make investment in Europe easier.
In the fourth quarter
The European Commission presents a proposal to revise the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation
Topic: In seeking to streamline and simplify the rules on corporate sustainability, the Commission will also propose changes to the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. This is linked to the proposals on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the European Union Taxonomy Regulation tabled earlier in the year.
23-24 October
European Council – meeting of EU heads of state and government
Topic: The heads of state and government of the EU member states meet for one of several regular annual meetings.
18-19 December
Event European Council – meeting of EU heads of state and government
Topic: The heads of state and government of the EU member states meet for one of several regular annual meetings.