Why Sufficiency matters for the EU

Europe is at a crossroads. In the face of growing geopolitical upheaval, the European Commission has launched a series of flagship initiatives to strengthen the EU’s economy. Among them, the Clean Industrial Deal marks an important step forward — aiming to boost the competitiveness of European industries while accelerating their decarbonisation. Central to this approach are energy security, affordability, and circularity, which are essential to managing limited resources and reducing the EU’s overdependence on third countries.

Sufficiency policies — complementing efficiency measures — are key to building Europe’s resilience and autonomy. By strategically reducing resource use, they can lower costs for households and businesses while helping to achieve climate and sustainability goals.

That’s why we continue to call on the European Commission and the Parliament to mainstream sufficiency across all relevant sectoral policies.

Together with other civil society organisations committed to the green transition, we decided it was time for a new policy brief focused on how sufficiency can be implemented in different EU legislative proposals currently under discussion. The result is a set of 10 recommendations to help make the European Union more resilient in the years ahead. Energy Cities’ contribution specifically focused on the EU Affordable Housing Plan.

1. Binding resource use targets to reduce the EU’s material footprint

Circular economy measures and targets to reduce resource consumption could reduce dependencies on materials, with significant potential economic gains. That’s why the new Circular Economy Act should include a binding reduction target for the EU’s material footprint.

2. Binding EU 2040 energy consumption reduction targets

Energy savings must be fully recognised as a lever that brings many co-benefits to society, including improved air quality, public health, and social equity.

Within the 2040 Climate Target for Energy, we need to set binding and ambitious energy savings targets for primary and final energy demand reduction for 2040, complemented with binding national targets to ensure implementation of energy savings measures in all sectors – particularly housing, mobility and their infrastructures, food and electrical appliances – and mobilise investments.

3. Obligation to monitor the use of existing buildings in Europe

Common definitions (vacancy, under-occupation, potential for conversion, etc.) and legally binding obligations for EU Member States are necessary to systematically monitor the usage of existing buildings, both residential and non-residential. Systematic data collection would ensure targeted investment, optimised urban planning, and evidence-based policies. With better data, under-occupied or vacant buildings can be repurposed to meet demand, especially in urban areas where land is scarce and necessary for climate adaptation and other ecosystem services.

4. Taxation and allocated investment to address vacant and under-used buildings and encourage reuse/repurpose

The housing crisis is spreading across Europe, fueling severe social problems. That’s why the institutions are working on an EU Affordable Housing Plan. Taxing empty or under-occupied homes would motivate owners to put them back on the market. To learn more about the housing emergency, read our articles here.

5. Mandatory water impact assessments in all new EU industrial policies

Regarding the Water Resilience Strategy, the policy brief suggests implementing mandatory water impact assessments for all new proposed industrial policies to allow for evidence-based decision making and ensure long-term planning while making sure to guarantee access to water for all. The available water resources are finite. Many industries that are central to the Commission’s competitiveness strategy are also highly water-demanding. It is therefore essential to consider their impact on water resources.

6. Water reuse promotion across sectors

Europe’s water resources are facing increasing pressures, creating serious challenges to water security for both people and the environment. We need to promote water reuse for agricultural, industrial, and urban uses, where appropriate, while carefully ensuring environmental flows in rivers, to reduce demand on limited drinking water sources and strengthen the circular economy.

7. EU target for citizen-owned energy by 2050, including 2030 and 2040 interim targets

All EU citizens should be able to access local, clean energy in a simplified and accelerated manner. Through soft and hard interventions – such as capacity building, or housing renovations – energy communities help their members lower their energy consumption. Let’s support them through an Action Plan for Energy Communities.

8. Achieve low-carbon modal shift, affordable access to quality public transport and resource-efficient vehicle design

According to the International Transport Forum, urban transport emissions (accounting for 40% of all passenger transport emissions) could be reduced by 80% by 2050, following a combination of policies that reduce individual car use and improve public transport. The EU Automotive Industrial Action Plan should support a modal shift to active mobility, in combination with disincentivising the use of cars.

9. Make the use of price-quality criteria mandatory

The Public Procurement Directives should mandate the use of a price-quality ratio to emphasise qualitative aspects, such as sustainability, to strengthen EU resilience and reduce dependence on raw materials. Making Life Cycle Cost mandatory would enable fairer competition for circular and innovative suppliers, whose products may have higher upfront costs but offer long-term benefits while accounting for environmental externalities. This would improve the procurement process.

10. Establish mandatory sectoral Green Public Procurement criteria and targets

Legal uncertainty regarding the inclusion of environmental criteria in tenders often leads to vague award criteria, leading to less ambition and innovation. The integration of environmental and circularity clauses in tenders would allow for significant raw materials and emissions savings.

Download the police brief to learn more about the 10 recommendations!

Are you interested in exploring other sufficiency measures and discovering why they are key factors in making our cities more resilient and our lives in harmony with the planet? Read our manifesto here.