The European Commission recently communicated that Member States have “significantly closed the gap” toward the EU’s 2030 climate and energy targets with their final National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs). Yet, NGOs assessment released today shows that many plans still lack the ambition, policies, financing, and implementation strategies needed to deliver on their pledges. Without a thorough implementation of these plans, Member States risk falling short of their goals for 2030 — and of building momentum for a fair and ambitious 2040 climate target.
“The targets are within reach—but with only five years left, implementation must become the top priority. Plans alone won’t reduce emissions or reap the benefits of the energy transition,” said CAN Europe’s energy and climate expert, Brigitta Bozso.
The NGOs analysis, “EU climate goals at risk – NECPs’ ambitious implementation must close the gaps”, reveals persistent structural issues in terms of ambition, financing, just transition, public participation and enforcement that continue to hold back the full potential of these climate plans.
Only half of the assessed NECPs include policy scenarios aligned with the required emission reductions in key sectors such as agriculture, transport, buildings, and waste. In the area of energy efficiency, most plans do not meet the minimum contributions outlined in the Energy Efficiency Directive, which the Commission has linked to an overall EU-wide energy savings shortfall of 8.1%.
Just as worrying, many Member States fail to outline how they will fund the transition. Few plans provide a clear link between proposed measures and financial sources—casting doubt on whether investments will match the scale of ambition.
“It’s like setting a destination, but forgetting to plan the route,” underlined CAN Europe’s expert. “Now Member States need to opt for the most ambitious path forward—with solid policies, secured funding, and inclusive public engagement guiding the way.”
“Stronger implementation of NECPs is about more than ticking boxes on climate targets. It’s a chance to improve people’s lives—through cleaner air, affordable energy, more resilient, healthier communities, and new job opportunities.”
With the 2040 climate target on the horizon, NECPs’ implementation is a critical chance to drive real progress. NECPs must move beyond reporting and become tools for change—supporting a fairer society and forming the backbone of EU climate action for the years ahead. Governments must act early, follow the science, and commit to 2035 and 2040 targets that reflect climate realities.
“Closing the remaining gaps will take coordinated effort,” added Brigitta Bozso. “The European Commission and Member States must work together—urgently and decisively—to improve and implement these plans.”
The briefing includes a full set of recommendations and country-by-country profiles of the 16 NECPs assessed: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain.
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVES
GERMANY: “For reaching our climate targets, we urgently need advances in two crucial areas: buildings and transport. The Commission’s own assessment shows that the German gap to target achievement in transport is about as big as the gap in the whole EU. We therefore call on the new German government to quickly propose a booster for electrification to close it. Germany has a key responsibility to keep prices manageable under the new Emissions Trading Scheme and to ensure the EU can meet its overall climate targets,” Charly Heberer, Senior Advisor – EU Climate Policy at Germanwatch.
BULGARIA: “relatively good on paper, but it still falls short of the EU’s minimum requirements on two key targets: LULUCF and final energy consumption. Without stronger policies and clear measures—especially in transport, energy efficiency, and waste—its real impact on emissions remains uncertain. Delaying action until future plans is not an option. Timely corrections are needed to meet the 2030 targets”, said Radostina Slavkova, Climate and Energy Policy Expert at Za Zemiata, Bulgaria.
CZECHIA: “The Czech NECP confirms that cutting emissions by 2030 is both feasible and economically smart—but it lacks the clear policies needed to get there. Without stronger action on renewables, energy savings, and fossil fuel subsidies, the plan risks falling short. The government must do more to deliver clean, affordable energy for all,” said Štěpán Vizi, Climate Policy Expert at Centre for Transport and Energy.
The end of June is the next key milestone for Member States as they must submit their national Social Climate Plans, detailing how they will use the EU Social Climate Fund to support vulnerable households and communities during the energy transition.
Note to editors
EU Member States were required to submit updated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) to the European Commission by 30 June 2024. As of today and almost one year after the official deadline, three countries still haven’t submitted their national climate plans, Belgium and Poland, while Estonia’s one was approved by its Government, though not yet published by the European Commission.
The recent briefing “Do final NECPs sufficiently address EU-level just transition requirements?” highlights the urgent need for a fundamental shift in how Member States approach just transition in the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) process, especially through putting equity, affordability, and inclusion at its core.
National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) are binding strategies that every EU country must submit to outline how they will meet the EU’s climate and energy targets by 2030. These plans detail national emissions reduction goals, renewable energy deployment, energy efficiency measures, and how these will be financed and governed. NECPs are central to translating EU-level commitments—like the European Green Deal—into concrete national actions.
CONTACT: cristina.dascalu@caneurope.org
