Energy Poverty and Vulnerable Consumers Coordination Group

SUMMARY OF:

Decision (EU) 2022/589 setting up the Commission Energy Poverty and Vulnerable Consumers Coordination Group

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION?

It sets up the Energy Poverty and Vulnerable Consumers Coordination Group as the main platform for the European Commission and European Union (EU) Member States to share information and best practice on the subject of energy poverty, coordinate EU legislation and help to design programmes and policy initiatives in the context of:

energy affordability;
targeted renovation and energy efficiency measures; and
financing schemes at the national level.

KEY POINTS

Access to energy services is considered an essential part of social inclusion. The European Pillar of Social Rights from 2017 includes energy among the essential services which everyone is entitled to access.

To tackle the issue of energy poverty and those affected by it, including vulnerable consumers and financially weak households, the Coordination Group:

shares information on measures to support and empower people in this situation;
addresses energy affordability at the national, regional and local level, including in the context of the clean energy transition;
discusses specific issues to identify actions and coordinated solutions in line with EU law;
addresses and monitors progress on root causes and solutions, including through socioeconomic analysis, and reviewing reports from the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub and the Commission;
aims to improve the quality and range of data and statistics so that action is based on an informed and up-to-date understanding of the key issues, in cooperation with the Social Protection Committee and Eurostat;
encourages information sharing, coordinated action and prevention measures in the event of an emergency within the EU.

Membership, external experts, and observers

Member States each nominate no more than two expert representatives and two alternates. The Commission may:

refuse nominations if they consider candidates do not have enough expertise to carry out the work;
invite outside experts with specific relevant expertise, on an ad hoc basis;
grant observer status to individuals, organisations and public entities such as consumer organisations, social partner organisations and representatives of civil society, who may take part in discussions but cannot vote;
set up subgroups to look at specific issues.

Participants in the Coordination Group and subgroups are not paid. Travel and subsistence expenses are reimbursed by the Commission.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY?

It has applied since 1 May 2022.

BACKGROUND

Energy poverty is also addressed in:

the European Green Deal, a set of policy initiatives aiming to make the EU climate-neutral by 2050;
the Renovation Wave, a major initiative designed to encourage renovation of private and public buildings;
the Clean energy for all Europeans package, which includes targeted measures to address specific vulnerabilities through energy legislation.

For further information, see:

Energy poverty (European Commission)
Energy poverty – EU buildings factsheets (European Commission).

Note: Standard definitions of energy poverty and vulnerable consumers are still being developed. In the meantime, Member States decide on their own criteria based on the national and local context.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Commission Decision (EU) 2022/589 of 6 April 2022 establishing the composition and the operational provisions of setting up the Commission Energy Poverty and Vulnerable Consumers Coordination Group (OJ L 112, 11.4.2022, pp. 67–72).