A new policy report, produced by the Energy Poverty Nexus project , explains how EU legislation on energy poverty is evolving and what this means in practice for Member States . As energy poverty is becoming a structural component of the EU’s energy transition agenda, national authorities face increasing responsibilities to ensure that the transition to clean energy is socially fair and inclusive.
Recent EU legislation introduces stricter and more explicit obligations to identify, protect and support households in energy poverty. Rising energy prices, inefficient buildings and the extension of carbon pricing to buildings have reinforced the need for coordinated action on energy, housing and social policy. The challenge today is no longer the lack of rules, but how these rules are implemented on the ground.
The policy report analyses how four key EU legislative instruments – the Energy Efficiency Directive, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the Social Climate Fund and the Electricity Market Design reform – interact to form a coherent framework. It organises this framework around four interconnected dimensions that can help national authorities understand how to address and combat energy poverty.
- First, definition and policy priority : Member States must identify households in energy poverty and prioritise them in National Energy and Climate Plans, Building Renovation Plans and Social Climate Plans. Energy poverty is no longer treated as a marginal social problem, but as a structural element of EU energy policy.
- Second, protection : the framework strengthens safeguards for households at risk, including protection against power cuts, safeguards against rent increases and evictions after renovations, and measures to cushion short-term price impacts. These protections aim to ensure that the transition does not create new social vulnerabilities.
- Third, participation : EU legislation now requires the structured participation of civil society, social actors, national and local authorities, and experts in the design, implementation and monitoring of policies. Participation is essential to ensure that measures reflect lived realities and effectively reach those most in need.
- Finally, financing and support : specific investment rules under the energy efficiency and buildings directives are combined with the Social Climate Fund, the first EU financing instrument dedicated to tackling energy and transport poverty. Delivery tools such as one-stop shops and local intermediaries play a crucial role in converting financing into real impact.
The policy report concludes with practical recommendations for national authorities, focusing on coordinated permanent governance structures, better data sharing, simplified access to support, and strong and enforceable safeguards. By implementing EU requirements in a coherent and strategic manner, and supported by stable governance structures and evidence-based decision-making, Member States can ensure that the clean energy transition is not only fast, but also just.
Read the full political report .
