European Economic and Social Committee "Tackling energy poverty for a just transition"

The conference, organised under the auspices of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, will focus on how to tackle energy poverty in a context of an unprecedented energy crisis aggravated by the war in Ukraine, which has worsened the situation of vulnerable citizens at risk of energy poverty. The conference aims to analyse current measures and take stock of recommendations from previous conferences, with the aim of developing recommendations for the future. It also aims to contribute to strengthening dialogue and cooperation between civil society organisations and different levels of governance.

As a starting point, the conference will examine the main ongoing European policy, the REPowerEU Plan, which addresses price volatility and seeks an affordable energy supply and a well-functioning energy market. The debate will focus on the effectiveness of the REPowerEU Plan in tackling energy poverty in the medium to long term and on the short-term measures needed to ensure a safe winter 2023/2024 for European citizens.

The 2023 conference is built around four panels. First, a specific panel will analyse the relevance and effectiveness of REPowerEU in tackling energy poverty. Then, the conference will develop three dimensions related to fuel poverty that need to be taken into account in policymaking: The second panel will address the need for affordable and energy-efficient housing as a solution to alleviate fuel poverty and household housing stress. In the third panel the conference will analyse the correlation between fuel poverty and transport poverty, both stemming from similar causes. Finally, the fourth panel will formulate gender-sensitive recommendations for tackling fuel poverty.

Additionally, the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub will discuss energy poverty policies and challenges at the local level during a dedicated session. The session will take place on 19 July at 14:30 CEST will provide a comprehensive overview of the energy poverty levels, challenges and policies in seven European countries, as a result of national events organised by the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub in Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain. Local stakeholders will share the key takeaways from the national discussions, including challenges, impact on vulnerable communities and policies and measures in place to address the issue. The session aims to provide a platform for exchange, with the ultimate goal of promoting sustainable and equitable access to energy across Europe.