site.btaBrussels Asks Bulgaria and 12 Other States to Urgently Submit Updated National Energy and Climate Plans

The European Commission said Thursday that it has asked Bulgaria and 12 other states to urgently submit their final updated national energy and climate plans. The other countries are Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Malta, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and Slovakia.  

The Commission says it had decided to open an infringement procedure by sending a letter of formal notice to the 13 member states for failing to submit their final updated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) in line with the Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action. It explains that the final updated NECPs are "crucial tools to ensure that Member States set out a concrete roadmap to achieve the agreed EU goals for greenhouse gas emissions reduction, renewable energy and energy efficiency, among others".

The updated NECPs are also key for the Commission to assess where Member States stand collectively in terms of ambition towards the EU 2030 climate and energy targets.

Under Article 14(2) of the Governance Regulation, all Member States had to submit their final updated NECPs by June 30, 2024. So far, the Commission has received 14 final Plans. 

13 Member States that have still not submitted their final updates are in breach of their obligation under the Governance Regulation and the Commission has therefore sent letters of formal notice. Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Malta, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and Slovakia now have two months to reply. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.