EU Prioritizes Citizens in Clean Energy Transition at Budapest Forum

Budapest hosted the latest Citizens’ Energy Forum , spotlighting the EU’s commitment to placing citizens at the center of the clean energy transition. The event marked an early milestone in the new European Commission’s mandate, signaling a strong focus on inclusivity and empowerment in energy policies.

The forum served as a launchpad for developing the Citizens’ Energy Package, an initiative designed to provide a coherent strategy for citizen engagement and a fair energy transition. Key stakeholders, including EU and national regulators, local authorities, and energy experts, convened to discuss the initiative announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her mission letter to Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen.

Discussions covered pivotal topics such as the role of energy communities, enhancing consumer choice, decarbonizing residential heating, addressing energy poverty through household renovations, phasing out coal, and the intersection of energy policies with affordable housing.

Deputy Director-General for Energy, Mechthild Wörsdörfer, emphasized in her keynote speech the importance of ensuring a just transition. She highlighted that the forthcoming package would prioritize the needs of vulnerable communities while intensifying efforts in reskilling and training workers impacted by the energy shift.

In tandem with the forum, the 3rd Regulatory Roundtable on Energy Policy for Consumers provided a platform for EU countries and regulators to discuss the implementation of existing EU directives and the core elements of the Citizens’ Energy Package. Outcomes from both the forum and the roundtable are available online.