Energy Efficiency Panel

Results of the Panel and Follow-up

Based on past and ongoing work of the European Commission, the Panel put together a list of recommendations to feed into upcoming EU initiatives. These include a Recommendation with sector-specific guidelines on the application of the “Energy Efficiency First Principle”, which the European Commission is currently drafting and preparing for adoption by the end of 2025.

In the meantime, the Commission is working on additional actions that continue building on the citizens’ recommendations and ideas. A key example is the Citizens’ Energy Package, which aims to enhance citizens’ participation in the energy transition and ensure that such transition is just and fair. The Package is a tool for activating citizens - whether individually or collectively through energy communities - to participate in and benefit directly from the energy transition.

Energy Communities Action Plan

As part of the Citizens’ Energy Package, the Commission will also prepare an Energy Communities Action Plan, which will support the EU and its Member States to accelerate the development of energy communities, as recommended by the panel.

To ensure transparency and accountability, a Feedback Event will be held towards the end of 2025, where the European Commission will explain how it is implementing the citizens’ recommendations.

The European Citizens’ Panel on Energy Efficiency has submitted its recommendations to the European Commission

At the end of the final session of the Panel, the citizens presented their recommendations to Maroš Šefčovič, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for the European Green Deal.

Over three weekends, 150 randomly selected citizens representing all 27 EU Member States came together to discuss the challenges and benefits of energy efficiency most relevant to them.

Together, they put forward a list of concrete recommendations that will contribute to shaping future EU laws and feed into upcoming Commission initiatives. This includes the foreseen Commission proposal for a Recommendation on the “Energy Efficiency First Principle”.

Full list of recommendations

two citizens hand over the final recommendations to Maroš Šefčovič, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for the European Green Deal.

How can the European Union bring the benefits of energy efficiency to citizens, public authorities and enterprises?

The European Citizens’ Panel on Energy Efficiency brought together 150 European citizens to discuss how energy is used in the EU and how the energy system may change in the future. This was timely in light of the recent energy crisis that confirmed the need for a cleaner and more secure EU energy system.

Participants focused on different aspects of energy efficiency that we might encounter at home, in our communities or in the workplace. Topics included, among others, how we heat our buildings, what kind of household appliances we buy, and what transport we use.

Timeline

The European Citizens’ Panel on Energy Efficiency took place over three weekends between February and April 2024

23-25 February
Session 1 - Brussels
- Exchange of first ideas participants find most promising for this exercise.
- Introduction to “energy efficiency”: what it means and what is already being done to improve it, both nationally and at EU level.
- Identifying the influence and impact of energy efficiency on our everyday lives, and ways to bring in its full benefits.
Recordings 23 February 2024 | 25 February 2024
15-17 March
Session 2 - online
- Stocktake of Session 1 and development of ideas by theme and topic.
- First phase of developing recommendations.
Recordings 15 March 2024 | 17 March 2024
12-14 April
Closing session - Brussels
- Drawing conclusions of debates and recommendations to the European Commission.
- Explanation of next steps – impact on policymaking and feedback moment.
Recordings 12 April 2024 | 14 April 2024