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Document 52026XR0637
Declaration of the Bureau of the European Committee of the Regions on AccelerateEU – Energy Union – Affordable and Secure Energy through Accelerated Action
Declaration of the Bureau of the European Committee of the Regions on AccelerateEU – Energy Union – Affordable and Secure Energy through Accelerated Action
Declaration of the Bureau of the European Committee of the Regions on AccelerateEU – Energy Union – Affordable and Secure Energy through Accelerated Action
OJ C, C/2026/3099, , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2026/3099/oj (BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, GA, HR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)
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Official Journal |
EN C series |
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C/2026/3099 |
8.6.2026 |
Declaration of the Bureau of the European Committee of the Regions on AccelerateEU – Energy Union – Affordable and Secure Energy through Accelerated Action
(C/2026/3099)
The Bureau of the European Committee of the Regions
Introduction
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1. |
highlights that escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the ongoing Russian war of aggression in Ukraine are driving renewed energy price volatility, exposing Europe’s structural dependence on imported fossil fuel energy and external suppliers, and disproportionately impacting regions and cities as well as people already suffering from, or at risk of energy poverty; |
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2. |
underlines that this shock comes while local and regional authorities (LRAs) are still managing the consequences of previous crises, and recalls the need for decarbonising and electrifying the EU economy as a strategic choice for the security and resilience of the Union, sustainable long-term competitiveness as well as for climate reasons; |
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welcomes the European Commission’s communication ‘AccelerateEU – Energy Union – Affordable and Secure Energy through Accelerated Action’ and considers that a coordinated and flexible approach that fully respects national energy mixes, promotes diversification of supply, domestic production and cost-effective decarbonisation pathways, in line with the EU climate law, is essential to address short-term price pressures while accelerating the work towards the completion of a stronger sustainable and independent Energy Union; |
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considers that the revision of the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action regulation should focus on stable and practical mechanisms for horizontal and vertical coordination, multilevel governance and avoid additional administrative burdens; |
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stresses that the Union’s efforts to strengthen its energy resilience and accelerate the clean transition must go hand in hand with strategic autonomy, security of supply and solidarity including continued support for Ukraine, and close cooperation with enlargement countries and the EU’s Eastern and Southern neighbours; |
The role of local and regional authorities in responding to the energy crisis
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6. |
recognises that the crisis is again placing strong pressure on households, businesses – especially SMEs – and LRAs, and regrets therefore that the role of LRAs is neglected in the communication; stresses that decisive action such as a temporary emergency measures to fast-track permitting and prioritise key energy projects are necessary to accelerate the production and integration of homegrown clean energy into reinforced grids, and to reach autonomy for the EU; |
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reiterates that investments in renewable energy, electrification, energy efficiency and other low-carbon technologies contribute to climate objectives, security of supply, competitiveness and cohesion; emphasises that this crisis is an opportunity to modernise and decarbonise the EU energy system and scale up public and private investment; |
Strengthening the enabling framework to face the energy crisis and foster sectoral responses
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expresses concern over rising energy poverty and emphasises the need for targeted support to vulnerable households, not least through a reinforced Social Climate Fund, the development of energy communities and one-stop shop solutions; |
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recalls the strategic importance of strengthening Europe’s industrial base and safeguarding quality jobs through ‘made in Europe’ and low carbon energy technologies and resilient-by-design infrastructure, while ensuring effective scrutiny for foreign investments in critical assets; |
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calls to speed up the roll-out of interconnections between EU Member States and the integration of renewables, and to enhance the coordination of storage capacities in order to create a well-interconnected energy network that allows for inter-regional solidarity and is capable of absorbing shocks from supply disruptions and temporary price volatility; |
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notes that the energy and supply-chain crisis has a serious impact on the agricultural sector and therefore on food prices; calls for measures to ensure a stable and fair income to farmers and security of food supplies; stresses the need to reduce dependence on mineral fertilizers through organic and recycled alternatives; |
Adapting financial and fiscal support measures in view of the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)
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welcomes the announced Temporary State Aid Framework enabling public authorities to support the most exposed sectors through well targeted and temporary measures; warns, however, against damaging the Single Market and permanently distorting competition within and between Member States, and against artificially increasing demand for constrained and unsustainable energy supplies; recalls that the State aid rules should make sure that public money helps the EU to achieve its strategic goals; |
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supports windfall measures, including solidarity contributions on exceptional profits of oil and gas companies generated during the energy crisis, and underlines that the resulting revenues should be transparently mobilised, through national and local frameworks, to support consumer protection and alleviate energy poverty at local and regional level, while avoiding measures that risk locking in fossil fuel dependency or slowing electrification and clean energy objectives; |
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recalls the importance of a stable and predictable EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) for cities and regions, particularly in the current context of acute energy price volatility. A well-functioning ETS helps stabilise expectations and, through national frameworks, supports urgent measures at local and regional level to mitigate the impact of high energy costs. Safeguarding the effective functioning of the ETS is therefore essential to avoid further uncertainty and support resilience and affordability during the energy crisis; |
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calls for coordinated action to develop EU-wide social leasing schemes for key energy-efficient and clean technologies, notably energy-efficient appliances, heat pumps, rooftop photovoltaics or electric vehicles as concrete measures against energy and transport poverty and to boost European competitiveness. |
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2026/3099/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)