Back to Brussels: what EU policies we’re looking out for until the end of the year

In August, Brussels slows down. EU staffers, lobbyists and policymakers head off for some time out, and at Energy Cities, we also take a breather before the intense months ahead. 

Because while summer is a time to switch off, the climate crisis isn’t taking a break. With every summer, Europe gets a harsher wake-up call. Stifling heat, raging wildfires and growing droughts are brutal reminders of why we do the work we do, and send us back to our desks even more determined to get on with it. 

This year, Europe has faced crisis after crisis: rising energy prices, geopolitical tensions and one climate hazard after another. Through it all, we’ve kept one thing in mind: how can we empower local communities to strengthen Europe’s energy independence and build resilience? 

Now it’s September. Brussels is waking up, and so is the policymaking machine. Here’s what we’ll be looking out for in the months ahead. 

Putting homegrown renewable energy at the heart of Europe’s energy security and affordability 

You may have seen that, over the summer, the EU finally launched its Electrification Action Plan. We were happy to see it land, but a plan is only as good as its implementation. And that means getting the right policies in place. 

One of the big ones to watch will be the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive, with the Commission expected to publish its proposal in December. 

As we’ve been saying all year, including in our paper on local contributions to Europe’s energy security and affordability, local authorities and stakeholders have a crucial role to play. They can provide the local flexibility Europe needs to accelerate renewable energy and electrification and help make our energy system more secure in the process. 

Europe’s energy sovereignty won’t come from one solution. It will come from making the most of the many solutions that can be developed locally. 

So, for the Renewable Energy Directive, we want to see that local contribution properly recognised. 

What are we looking for? A sustained renewable energy target, stronger collaboration between system operators and municipalities, and a system that makes it easier for locally produced renewable energy to be consumed locally. Our full position is available here. 

Before then, we’re also following the European Parliament’s position on the Network Charges Proposal, which aims to make Europe’s electricity grid smarter and more cost-effective. The proposal is broadly moving in the right direction and could help make energy more affordable. We have a few pointers to make it work even better, which we will reveal by the end of the month.  

And while the policy debate continues, we’re keeping an eye on what’s already happening on the ground. Through our Homegrown Energy campaign, we’ll continue sharing stories every month about innovative approaches to local energy production and consumption.

Keeping local heating and cooling plans moving 

We’ll also continue our quest to make local heating and cooling planning a reality across Europe. 

Under Article 25 of the Energy Efficiency Directive, municipalities and local authorities above 45,000 inhabitants are required to develop heating and cooling plans. We’ve always been clear that these plans are a real game-changer. 

Why? Because the local level is where we can see what is actually possible: where we can replace fossil fuels, expand district heating, make different solutions work together, and build a heating system around the needs of the people and places it serves. 

But cities can’t do this alone. They need the people, money and data to turn a plan into action. 

That’s why, over the past few years, we’ve been tracking how (or more whether) Member States are supporting municipalities with local heating and cooling planning. Every year, we update our tracker to see where things are moving and where support is still falling short. 

And we have a date for the diary: 12 October. 

That’s the anniversary of the adoption of the local heating and cooling mandate, and the day we update our tracker. We’ve also decided to give it a name: Local Heat Day. (It’s not officially recognised by anyone but us. Yet.) 

Making the gas phase-out affordable 

We’re also going to look at the economics of the gas phase-out: what does it mean for energy bills today, and for the value of investments tomorrow? 

Looking at scenarios in several cities, we’ve started tracing the economic benefits of moving away from gas and investing in alternatives such as clean district heating. We’ll be sharing more on what this could mean for cities in the coming months. 

Through our #MakingHeatSafe campaign, we’ve also been spotlighting local “heat heroes” who are helping strengthen Europe’s energy security by phasing out gas from their heating systems. 

More heat heroes are coming (and you can join them!) as we explore the gas phase-out from an economic perspective too. 

Giving cities the means to deliver Europe’s priorities 

The negotiations on the future EU budget are still under way. While much of the first half of the year was spent advocating for a budget that works for cities and territories, the conversation is now moving into its next phase. 

The challenge is making sure that the money eventually reaches the places where change needs to happen. 

We’ll continue to keep cities up to date on the negotiations and what they could mean for local investment. But we’re also moving the conversation to the national level, working to shape National and Regional Partnership Plans that respond to cities’ needs and exploring models for the future Territorial Chapters. 

In parallel, the EU is set to reopen the Energy Union and Climate Action Regulation. 

It might not sound like the most exciting piece of EU policymaking. But this regulation is one of the foundations of Europe’s climate and energy transition, shaping how Member States plan to reach climate neutrality. 

The Commission is expected to publish its proposal in December. We’ve already made our position clear: the next regulation needs to help close the gap between national plans and what is actually happening on the ground. Because local energy projects are key vehicles for national strategies and can help cut red tape, unlock investment and deliver on 2040 climate goals.  

Making Europe ready for the climate we’re already living in 

As Europe burns, floods, dries out and heats up, the EU is working on a new integrated framework to address climate risks, expected towards the end of the year. 

We’ll be looking closely at this to make sure it is rooted in integrated local planning, backed by predictable funding and long-term support. Because resilience doesn’t start when the disaster hits. It starts with how we design our homes, streets, energy systems and public spaces today. It means building “resilience by design” into the places where people live. 

This is particularly important when cities are being asked to take on more and more responsibility while facing tighter budgets and growing financial pressure. 

Cities need political backing, financial resources and the right planning tools, as the Covenant community has already made clear. Not just to deal with the next climate emergency, but to prepare for a climate that has already changed.  

Join the conversation and make your voice heard! 

The EU Covenant of Mayors Ceremony, on 15 October, will bring mayors together with EU policymakers for exactly these conversations. EU Commissioner for Energy, Dan Jørgensen, and EU Commissioner for Climate, Wopke Hoekstra, will join local leaders to discuss energy security and climate action, alongside conversations on climate disinformation, financing local action and more.  

It’s one of the key moments of the year for local leaders to come together in Brussels, make their voices heard and help shape the policies that will shape their communities. Add your voice – make sure you register to join!

Brussels is back. Let’s get to work.