Question écrite de
M. Tomislav SOKOL
-
Commission européenne
Subject: Energy poverty in the EU
Energy poverty is a serious existential and health problem across the European Union. In the context of climate change, energy poverty is no longer a factor solely during cold spells, but also during extremely high temperatures in Europe. Energy poverty means an inability to pay the cost of energy needed to live in acceptable conditions, as well as living in energy‑inefficient housing. According to the World Health Organisation, inadequate housing is linked to 100 000 premature deaths each year. Furthermore, 54 million European residents cannot properly heat their households, while 30 % of Europeans are estimated to be energy‑poor. In this connection:
1. Will the Commission inform Parliament of the actual number of energy‑poor people in the EU, as well as of the methodology for performing such a calculation, given that there is no universally accepted definition of energy poverty?
2. What measures is the Commission taking to reduce the number of EU citizens who are suffering from energy poverty, especially given that energy poverty is associated with chronic psychological disorders and respiratory diseases?
Answer given by Ms Simson on behalf of the European Commission
(15 May 2020)
It is not possible to provide a definitive number of those in energy poverty as there is no harmonised definition of the phenomenon. It is the obligation of Member States, when assessing the number of households in energy poverty, to establish and publish a set of criteria (1).
However, according to Eurostat, 7.3% of the EU population report not being able to afford to heat their homes sufficiently. In addition, the Energy Poverty Observatory, launched by the Commission in January 2018, has developed a suite of indicators, which should be viewed and used in combination (2).
The Commission’s measures to help address energy poverty include the delivery of guidance to Member States on indicators, in parallel to the preparation of a ‘renovation wave’ initiative to face the twin challenge of energy efficiency and affordability (3).
Furthermore, the Commission will enforce the legislation related to energy poverty, including: the implementation of the Governance Regulation 2018/1999, which requires Member States that have identified a significant number of households in energy poverty to set indicative objectives to reduce energy poverty in the National Energy and Climate Plans (4); and an assessment of Member States’ national long-term renovation strategies (5) required by the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which include actions to target energy poverty.
Regarding health issues specifically, several Horizon 2020 socioeconomic projects exist to assess the health benefits deriving from energy efficiency measures (6). It is foreseen that the future Horizon Europe programme continues to support projects of this nature.
⋅1∙ Article 29 of Directive 2019/944/EU on common rules for the internal market for electricity
⋅2∙ https://www.energypoverty.eu/indicators-data
⋅3∙ COM(2019) 640 final — Commission Communication on the European Green Deal
⋅4∙ Article 3(3)(d) of the Governance Regulation.
The National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) are the first ever integrated mid-term planning tools that Member States are required to prepare in view of the implementation of the Energy Union objectives, and in particular the agreed EU 2030 energy and climate targets. For more information consult the June 2019 Memo of NECP questions and answers, available here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/MEMO_19_2997 ⋅5∙ These strategies will form part of EU countries’ integrated national energy and climate plans (NECPs).
⋅6∙ See http://combi-project.eu/ and https://www.buildup.eu/en/explore/links/empowermed-project