NECPlatform

What are Climate and Energy Dialogue Platforms and why are they important?

NECPs, Article 11 of the Governance Regulation, Climate and Energy Dialogue Platform… Understand the legislation framing the project and the methodology behind our platforms.

What strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and needs do all of the NECPlatform countries have in common when it comes to setting up multilevel dialogues on climate and energy?

Report on Best Practices of Multilevel Governance

This report serves as a founding basis for the NECPlatform project, which objective is to develop Climate and Energy Dialogue (CED) platforms in six Member States (Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Italy, Portugal and Romania) as required by Article 11 of the European Regulation on Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action.

The report first starts by explaining the concept of multi-level governance (MLG) and its evolution in recent years. It then investigates the governance structure of each Member State participating in the NECPlatform project: the different administrative levels present in each of the six countries are thoroughly presented. Lastly, it gives examples of 21 multilevel governance initiatives, which have been selected following a clear and detailed methodology. This analysis leads to recommendations that will serve as a basis to shape the CED platforms in each of the participating Member States.

Guidance for the implementation of Climate and Energy Dialogue platforms

Within this report, a widely applicable framework for the set-up and implementation of Climate and Energy Dialogue Platforms is presented. The guidelines are drafted based on the analysis of good practices carried out at the start of the NECPlatform project and tested in each of the six Member States (MS) participating in the NECPlatform project.

The guidelines take the form of a manual (the present report) and include (non-exhaustive list):

• A policy assessment framing the context in which the platforms are operating.
• A four-step approach on how to successfully set up and carry out Climate and Energy Dialogues – each step offers best practices from one or more of the 6 project MS.
• Materials and templates for setting up and implementing the meetings and follow-up activities (e.g. templates for invites, draft participation agreement, draft Memorandum of Understanding, etc.).

This manual has been designed as a living document and will help the reader to:

• Understand the concept of Multi-Level Governance (MLG), learning from the experience and shared lessons of 6 Member States.
• Develop a Climate and Energy Dialogue (CED) platform based on a set of core elements.
• Engage stakeholders and build alliances at various levels of the Member State context.

Third Policy Brief – November 2024

This policy brief aims to highlight the benefits of multilevel governance processes, such as the Climate and Energy Dialogues (CED), as mandated by Article 11 of the European Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action (1999/2018) and showcases the different achievements made through CED organised in the 6 partners’ countries. It also promotes a peer-learning programme for other Member States that would like to set up such dialogues.

The peer-learning programme will:

• help participants gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of coordinating different administrative levels and see real examples of how multilevel CED can not only coordinate different actors but also avoid overlaps.
• offer a collaborative space where participants can discuss doubts and challenges.
• equip participants with practical knowledge and peer insights to be more prepared to approach CEDs with greater confidence and adaptability.

Read the full brief

Second Policy Brief – September 2024

This policy brief aims to highlight the benefits of multilevel governance processes, specifically the Climate and Energy Dialogues (CED), to meet EU and Member States’ climate and energy targets. It also shows the limits of the current framework provided by Article 11 of the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action Regulation (1999/2018) and offers recommendations and inspiration for the European Commission and Member States to better leverage the potential of multilevel governance.

Our main recommendations:

• We encourage the new college of European Commissioners formed in autumn 2024 to revise parts of the Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Change to consolidate its multilevel dimension, following its review report as set in Article 45. In particular, we recommend reinforcing Article 11 in requesting Member States to work on the quality of the climate and energy dialogues and on their role in the implementation of the NECP.
• Review the implementing Regulation 2022/2299 accordingly, providing an adequate template for countries to report on the quality of the dialogues (a suggested modified Annex XXIII is included as Annex to this document).
• Include a mandatory chapter on the implementation of the NECPs where each Member State can clarify which players will be responsible for implementing the proposed measures and to list the national and European financial and technical resources available to support them.
• Explore additional tools and processes to foster more multilevel governance in the implementation of the NECPs.

Read the full brief

First Policy Brief – June 2023

As Member States are about to submit their first drafts of their revised NECPs, we drafted some recommendations for the European Commission to achieve a better implementation of Article 11 of the Governance Regulation.

Our main recommendations:

• Reiterate even more strongly a better implementation of Article 11 by Member States in its assessments of the draft and final updated NECPs. 
• Anticipate the assessments with a written recommendation to Member States stressing the mandatory aspect and benefits of multi-level dialogues, to make the best use of the year between the submission of the draft updated NECP (June 2023) and the final updated NECP (June 2024).
• Pay as much attention as possible to the quality of the dialogues in its evaluation and distinguish between well-structured and robust processes versus consultations made at the end of the process when the plans are a done deal. 
• Push Member States to establish such Climate and Energy Dialogues as structured long-term advisory groups not only limited to the development of National Energy Climate Plans, but encompassing all future energy and climate laws and strategies. 

Read the full brief

Why NECPlatform?