Issue 134 - January 2025
ISSN 2315-0017
Spotlight on energy
With energy generation accounting for around three-quarters of its greenhouse gas emissions, the EU’s climate goals hinge on the successful transition to sustainable energy sources. Together with measures aiming to boost the efficiency of its energy systems, security and affordability are central to the EU’s energy policies.
Renewable energy sources like wind and water are essential to the EU’s decarbonisation plan. This is why the EU is working on developing the infrastructure that can help it harness the full potential of these elements. Additionally, the EU supports projects that are developing smart technologies to enhance our energy networks. Rules on the energy performance of public buildings are also a key element of boosting the efficiency of our energy systems.
While each EU Member State is responsible for managing its own energy mix, the coordination of strategies at EU level allows them to meet common objectives. For example, by connecting energy networks between Member States, the EU can strengthen the security of energy supplies for all. In addition to interconnected infrastructure, the EU is taking action to diversify the supply of key energy sources such as gas so that we are less vulnerable to disruptions in global supply chains. Other EU policies aim to maintain a healthy storage capacity of other important energy sources like oil and boost domestic production of batteries – a key tool for storing energy.
In recent years, in a challenging geopolitical context, energy prices have fluctuated considerably. The EU is working to ensure energy remains affordable for all by creating integrated EU-wide electricity and gas markets. Its measures aim to ensure that the energy bills of European consumers and companies are fair and competitive and that consumers are well protected against market abuses.
Our January newsletter puts the spotlight on energy. We also recommend publications related to Poland as the country takes over the rotating presidency of the Council until the end of June this year.
Enjoy the good reads!
State of the Energy Union 2024 PDF
What was the largest single source of renewable electricity last year? How much new solar energy capacity was installed in the EU last year? In 2024, the generation of electricity from renewable sources hit at a record high, while gas prices fell considerably compared to the peaks in 2022. Learn more about the clean energy transition and what the EU is doing to pursue its emission reduction targets.
Available in all official languages of the EU and Ukrainian.Renewable energy in EU rural areas PDF
Production, potential and community engagement
By 2030, the EU aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% compared to 1990 levels. It then aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Meeting these decarbonisation goals will require a significant increase in the use of renewable energy sources to generate electricity. Read about the key role the EU’s rural areas have to play in this clean energy transition.
Available in EnglishShedding light PDF
Unveiling the dynamics of energy poverty in the EU
Energy poverty affects households across the European Union, although significant variations exist between regions and demographic groups. Through targeted interventions, the deep-rooted causes of energy poverty can be addressed, and its prevalence can be reduced. Read how to ensure that no citizen is left behind in the pursuit of a sustainable and equitable energy future.
Available in EnglishCORDIS results pack on better energy policy design PDF/Paper/HTML
Reducing energy consumption and achieving energy savings are essential to the EU’s climate goals. The EU-funded projects presented in this CORDIS Results Pack focus on people’s energy consumption habits and showcase how data can be used to support the design and implementation of energy policies.
Available in EnglishA positive trade-off PDF
Emissions reduction and costs under phase IV of the emissions trading system
The ultimate goal of the EU Emissions Trading System is to reduce factories’, power plants’, aircraft operators’ and manufacturers’ greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, read about the system’s impact on manufacturing and how it can help manufacturers boost their environmental performance without compromising their competitiveness.
Available in English
What does open data reveal about renewable hydrogen? html
Renewable hydrogen is a game-changer as an energy source and is crucial in the EU’s decarbonisation strategy. Produced using renewable electricity, renewable hydrogen can be stored for extended periods of time, thus filling in for supply and demand fluctuations in energy systems. From the demand and production to trade and use in the mobility sector, discover the role of hydrogen in Europe’s energy transition in the years to come in this data story.
Available in EnglishEuropean barriers in retail energy markets PDF
Poland country handbook
In this publication, read about the liberalisation of Poland’s energy market, and how consumers are benefitting from a greater choice in their electricity and gas suppliers. The publication also includes recommendations on how to ensure that consumers can reap the full benefits of competitive energy markets.
Available in EnglishRegional profile Wielkopolska, Poland PDF
Initiative for coal regions in transition
As part of its climate actions, the European Union is working to mitigate the social consequences of the clean energy transition in coal, peat and oil shale regions. In this report, uncover the plans of the Wielkopolska region in Poland – one of Poland’s lignite mining regions – as they navigate the transition. Similar reports exist for the Polish regions of Silesia and Lower Silesia.
Available in EnglishYou may also like
20 years together PDF
Poland
Poland became part of the European Union in 2004. From enhanced transport infrastructure to modernised public services, find out how the country has benefitted from EU membership. See how Poland has contributed to the EU’s strategic interests over the past two decades, in terms of pushing forward the clean and digital transitions for instance.
Available in EnglishThe contribution of EU cities and regions to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework PDF
The European Committee of the Regions' study analyses best practices in biodiversity conservation and nature restoration across European cities and regions. It examines their alignment with the Global Biodiversity Framework, focusing on governance, challenges, and policy recommendations. The study underscores the crucial role of local authorities in achieving global biodiversity targets. Check out the accompanying leaflet too!
Available in EnglishOur news
Explore the dynamic landscape of European open data with the 2024 Open Data Maturity Report published by the Publications Office of the EU. The report provides an annual assessment of the level of open data maturity across 34 European countries. This year is a special one, as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of measuring progress in the field of European open data.
In 2024, the EU Member States achieved an average maturity score of 83%, showing great improvement from 2015 when the first assessment was conducted and the EU average was just 46%. This year, seventeen of the participating countries increased their maturity score. The countries with the highest increase in scores were Croatia, Latvia and Serbia.
The Open Data Maturity assessment is a benchmarking exercise performed by the Publications Office of the European Union and the Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT). Participating countries complete a self-assessment survey that measures the year-on-year progress in making public sector information available and stimulating reuse. The assessment was focused on countries’ policies to promote open data, elements of their national data portals, the quality of metadata on countries’ national portals and countries’ initiatives to monitor the reuse and impact of open data.
Access the full report for a deeper understanding of countries’ open data maturity. If you want to see all country scores at a glance, visit the dedicated Open Data Maturity dashboard.
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