Friends of the Earth Europe, together with REScoop.eu, Energy Cities and CAN Europe, is organising an event on 9 June at the European Parliament on the Citizens Energy Package, co-hosted with multiple parliamentary groups, including the Greens/EFA, the Left, and S&D.
On 10 March 2026, the European Commission published the Citizens Energy Package (CEP), a non-legislative initiative aimed at strengthening the role of citizens in the energy transition, as part of a broader effort to lower electricity costs and tackle energy poverty.
With oil and gas prices once again under pressure from war in the Middle-East, the EU must move faster to phase out fossil fuels and ensure a democratic, just, and inclusive energy transition. Across Europe, citizens are already eager to start local, renewable energy communities that secure environmental, economic, and social benefits to people. Despite many shortcomings, the CEP highlights community-owned renewable energy as a key tool to improve affordability, local energy control, and energy security, and presents nine actions encouraging Member States to develop enabling frameworks and financing supporting citizens’ participation in the energy system.
The event will gather MEPs from different political groups, the European Commission, civil society, and business associations to analyse the package along the angles of:
- Implementation and upcoming legislation: how can we turn the ambitious goals of the CEP (x10 community energy by 2030) into concrete actions by Member States, in light of the post-2030 energy framework.
- Affordability: positioning the CEP within the context of the Iran war and the ensuing energy and cost of living crisis, and highlighting the concrete ways that energy communities stabilise and lower prices, as well as contribute to alleviate energy poverty.
- Funding: linking the CEP within the 2028-2034 EU budget discussions, in particular NRPP and ECF
- Grids: connecting the ongoing debates around fair benefit sharing in the Permitting Directive
Registration has closed.
Friends of the Earth Europe gratefully acknowledges financial assistance from the European Commision (LIFE Programme). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor CINEA can be held responsible for them.
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