Multilevel climate and energy dialogue to deliver the energy governance

Topic description

Objective:

The topic aims at supporting Member States in fostering a multilevel dialogue to deliver the energy governance. Collaboration between governance levels (such as regions, cities and communities, national governments) and stakeholders (e.g. civil society, academia, industry and business, NGOs) is crucial to allow for delivery of the clean energy transition and of the European Green Deal^[1]. However, a first analysis of the National Energy and Climate Plans^[2] (NECPs) submitted by Member States, shows that communication among different administrative levels is still unsuited to achieve 2030 and 2050 targets. As stated in the Governance Regulation^[3], there is a need to support Member States in creating a multi-level climate and energy dialogue, coordinating different governance layers - both vertically and horizontally - in view of the update of the NECPs (foreseen for 2023) and for their monitoring and reporting, foreseen every other year. Multilevel and consistent measures and goals, stronger political commitment and a shared vision are required.

In order to support Member States to fulfil their obligations under the Governance Regulation and the European Green Deal, the European Commission is looking for action able to:

• Establish a permanent dialogue and create/strengthen structured synergies between different administrative levels (regions, cities, national governments), stakeholders (e.g. civil society, communities, academia, industry and business, NGOs) and tools to reach ambitious and shared decarbonisation targets and better define the role and contribution of the regional/local level to the national energy and climate targets. The aim is to increase co-definition and coherency of strategies and measures at different governance levels, improve monitoring and reporting schemes at local level (e.g. Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs), European Energy Award (EEA), etc.) and national level (e.g. NECPs, Long-term Renovation Strategies, Recovery plans) to support the Energy Union Governance Regulation, support regional initiatives (e.g. Coal Regions in Transition, Clean Energy for EU Islands, Smart Cities and Communities, the Horizon mission on carbon neutral and smart cities^[4], etc.), increase sharing of best practices, institutionalise the improved governance processes and strengthen political commitment. Harmonisation of different reporting frameworks (e.g. EEA, Territoires à énergie positive, ISO50001, KEM Climate and Energy Model Regions, etc.) should be sought when relevant. The newly created structures are required to demonstrate full sustainability after the end of the European funding.
• Deliver governance or processes models to allow for robust and consistent reporting mechanisms, integrating vertical and horizontal administrative layers and delivering innovative monitoring and verification schemes mixing different approaches (e.g. top-down and bottom-up) and applying such models for the updating of NECPs in appropriate time horizon, taking into account the Energy Efficiency First principle.
• Make links to other ongoing initiatives and existing dialogue fora aimed at enhancing and implementing connected and relevant policies (e.g. Long-term Renovation Strategies, Recovery and Resilience Plans) and / or initiatives (e.g. existing Roundtables on Sustainable Energy, events organised in the framework of the Sustainable Energy Investment Forums^[5]).

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of up to EUR 1.75 million would allow the specific objectives to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

• Newly developed governance structures / dialogue platforms to enhance exchanges between different administrative layers and stakeholders
• Newly developed governance or processes models establishing a solid reporting mechanisms for the NECPs
• Number of institutionalised collaborations on the energy transition between public authorities on different levels (local, regional, national) and different fields (civil society, communities, academia, industry and business, NGOs, etc.)
• Number of updated NECPs^[6]
• Number of stakeholders from different administrative levels and stakeholders groups engaged in the process
• Primary energy savings/Renewable energy generation triggered by the project (in GWh/year)
• Investments in sustainable energy triggered by the project (cumulative, in million Euro)

[1]https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:b828d165-1c22-11ea-8c1f-01aa75ed71a1.0002.02/DOC_1&format=PDF

[2]https://ec.europa.eu/energy/topics/energy-strategy/national-energy-climate-plans_en#final-necps

[3]https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32018R1999&from=EN

[4]https://ec.europa.eu/info/horizon-europe/missions-horizon-europe/climate-neutral-and-smart-cities_en

[5]https://ec.europa.eu/energy/topics/energy-efficiency/financing-energy-efficiency/sustainable-energy-investment-forums_en

[6]Member States are expected to provide an updated draft NECP by June 2023 and a final updated NECP by December 2023