The recent, unprecedented fossil fuels crisis has highlighted the urgent need to rebuild Europe’s energy system to be more resilient, sustainable, and affordable. Energy communities offer the structural solution to this challenge.
While negotiations on the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework continue at the EU level, EU Member States are already beginning preparatory work on their national and regional partnership plans at the national level. This early phase offers an important opportunity to embed the partnership principle and genuine multilevel governance from the outset.
The revision of the Renewable Energy Directive should preserve and strengthen the existing framework for renewable energy communities. The EU does not need a new definition of renewable energy communities; it needs to fully implement the one it already has and ensure that the rights attached to it are effective in practice.
The European Commission's Citizens Energy Package is a non-legislative initiative aimed at strengthening the role of citizens in the energy transition. REScoop.eu broadly welcomes it and its recognition of energy communities as key actors in the energy transition. However, despite its positive directly, it lacks clear enforcement mechanisms.
REScoop.eu together with Friends of the Earth Europe have prepared a series of national factsheets linking energy communities with the goals, and specific chapters, of the National and Regional Partnership Plans Regulation.
This policy paper analyses how the Energy Investment Strategy can ensure that crucial financing is directed to the citizens involved in the energy transition.
This briefing provides practical suggestions for reforms and investments in the National Social Climate Plans. It also compares national approaches and encourages more inclusive and effective planning.
To ensure long-term affordability and sustainability, the European Affordable Housing Plan should promote high-quality, circular, energy efficient and decarbonised buildings, for example through citizen-led renovation initiatives.
REScoop.eu welcomes the European Affordable Housing Plan, and highlights the role of citizen-led renovations to tackle some of the housing issues Europe is facing.
REScoop.eu calls on the Cypriot Presidency of the European Council to prioritise energy communities in some of its key policy files, as they contribute to energy security, provide affordable energy and competitiveness, and they pursue social objectives.
The Heating and Cooling Strategy has the potential to speed up the development of energy communities working on thermal energy.
Supporting energy communities with financing and capacity building through the Energy Security Framework would enhance Europe’s energy security.