EUKI Interview: Strengthening National Energy and Climate Plans in Central and Eastern Europe

by Alexander Vaatz, GIZ / EUKI

EUKI project Effective Implementation of NECPs in CEE has been working since December 2023 to enhance and streamline National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) in Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, and Romania. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between national and European climate policies and help these countries align more closely with the European Green Deal’s climate-neutral goals. We spoke to Martin Vladimirov, project lead from the Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD), about the  implementation of the project and the role of local-level collaboration.

Published: 17 October 2024
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If you were to explain the goal of your project to a stranger, how would you describe your work?

Every EU country is required to update their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), outlining how they will contribute to meeting the EU’s targets for 2030. Our project assesses the governance deficits in the NECPs of Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, and Poland and explores the level of alignment between the EU and national targets. The comparative analysis also seeks to address the countries’ main energy and climate security risks. In addition, the project aims to identify citizens’ preferences on energy and climate policy, with a focus on the development of energy poverty mitigation policies.

Martin Vladimirov

Martin Vladimirov is the Director of the Energy and Climate Programme at the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), a European public policy institute focused on energy and climate security. He has been with CSD for over a decade, during which he co-authored the Kremlin Playbook series, exploring the impact of Russian economic influence in Europe and Latin America. Martin leads the development of the Energy and Climate Security Risk Index and has been working on strengthening the sanctions regime against Russia. He has specialised in developing long-term decarbonisation pathways, the improvement of energy transition governance, and the uptake of cutting-edge low-carbon energy technologies.

What are the most significant challenges Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, and Romania face in aligning their NECPs with the European Green Deal, and how does your project help address them?

The NECPs often state ambitious targets in all dimensions but lack concrete policy actions that could effectively tackle some of the main energy and climate risks, e.g. for decarbonising the transport, industry, and buildings sectors, and stakeholder involvement has been limited. Our project aims to identify these shortcomings and provide targeted national-level guidance on how to strengthen the long-term decarbonisation framework of each country.

Energy poverty and social inclusion are central to your project. What steps are you taking to ensure that the energy transition in the target countries benefits vulnerable groups?

The project utilises the combined methodologies of the NECP evaluation and monitoring framework, the Energy and Climate Security Risk Index, and citizen surveys in each country to identify the key drivers of energy poverty, whether and how they are addressed in the NECPs, and how citizens would like to see them addressed. The project will aim to deliver key insights from the national-level assessments to policymakers and provide them with concrete policy recommendations that are both highly effective and socially acceptable.

You facilitate national policy dialogues that bring together stakeholders from various sectors. How do you foster meaningful collaboration among policymakers, civil society, and the private sector?

We foster collaboration by organising bilateral policy consultations and national policy roundtables. These forums engage policymakers, civil society, and private sector representatives, allowing them to share insights and recommendations for improving NECPs. Additionally, the project facilitates public involvement through evaluations of social preferences regarding energy policies. This inclusive approach ensures transparency, promotes public acceptance, and integrates diverse stakeholder input into the policymaking process.

We foster collaboration by organising bilateral policy consultations and national policy roundtables. These forums engage policymakers, civil society, and private sector representatives, allowing them to share insights and recommendations for improving NECPs.

Martin Vladimirov

How does regional cooperation contribute to long-term structural changes in the energy sector?

Regional cooperation plays a vital role in driving structural change by promoting cross-border knowledge exchange and leveraging synergies. The project facilitates high-level policy discussions that highlight best practices and regional cooperation opportunities. This fosters a unified approach to energy and climate security and can help initiate joint projects in the energy sector.

What do you hope to achieve by the end of your project cycle, and how will these outcomes contribute to making Europe climate-neutral by 2050?

By the end of the project, we aim to strengthen the NECPs in Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, and Romania through tailored assessments, so that they align better with EU targets on energy poverty, energy security, and facilitate broader public acceptance of decarbonisation policies. These results will help put the region on a clear path to climate neutrality by 2050, by promoting ambitious policies and catalysing investment in innovative technologies.

Thank you Martin, for taking the time to answer these questions, we are excited how the project is going to develop.

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