A coalition of NGOs urges the European Commission to start legal action against France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Sweden for illegal National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs).
The NGOs submitted coordinated complaints that rely on evidence showcasing that these countries’ plans are breaching EU law relating to failure to meet binding climate and energy targets, disclose information on fossil fuel subsidies, and involve the public in the plan’s preparation.
These complaints come in as only 14 countries have submitted their final revised NECPs, four months past the deadline of June 30th, 2024 and as the Commissioners-designate for the next European Commission are being heard by the European Parliament for their confirmation. The NGOs argue that these delayed and inadequate plans jeopardise both the EU’s climate objectives and the fair, just transition promised to citizens.
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The complaints point to widespread breaches of legally binding climate and energy targets, the continued provision of fossil fuel subsidies, and the lack of early and meaningful public participation in the NECP preparation process. These issues are not isolated to a single country, but are part of a broader, cross-European problem.
“These climate plans are the bridge between the EU’s climate targets and the real-life actions that will determine our ability to fight climate change while ensuring social justice,” said Chiara Martinelli, Director of CAN Europe.
“The failures in several countries show that this process is not being taken seriously enough, and without swift intervention, we risk missing our climate and energy targets and leaving vulnerable communities behind.”
The European Commission is responsible for holding Member States accountable when they violate EU law. The NGOs are urging the Commission to act swiftly, launching legal actions where necessary.
“Any law is only as strong as its enforcement,” added Martinelli. “The Commission must now step up and ensure that European countries are held to their commitments. The Commission must defend the rule of law.”
The complaints underscore the need for transparency and legitimacy in decision-making to ensure that climate policies benefit all citizens. NGOs argue that once the law is in place, Member States must comply and cannot negotiate themselves out of non-compliance or be excused due to national politics. The Commission has 12 months to reply to these complaints.
In the mission letters to the Commissioners-designate for climate and energy, Wopke Hoekstra and Dan Jørgensen who, this week, are being heard by the European Parliament, Commission President von der Leyen emphasised that the success of this Commission will be judged by its ability to meet the European Green Deal’s targets. She explicitly instructed them to use all available enforcement tools, including infringement proceedings, to ensure Member States follow through on their commitments.
NATIONAL PRESS RELEASES
- Notre Affaire à Tous (France)
- Germanwatch (Germany)
- Environmental Justice Network Ireland (EJNI) (Ireland)
- A Sud and WWF Italy (Italy)
- Sweden’s Environmental Association of Law (SEAL) and Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) (Sweden)
ENDS
Note to editors:
The legal procedure behind this case is explained in the media briefing.
The NGOs involved in this coalition coordinated by CAN Europe include:
- Notre Affaire à Tous (France)
- Germanwatch (Germany)
- Environmental Justice Network Ireland (EJNI)
- A Sud and WWF Italy (Italy)
- Sweden’s Environmental Association of Law (SEAL) and Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (Sweden)
CONTACT: cristina/@/caneurope.org
