The European Commission has launched a 12-week open public consultation and call for evidence to help shape the revision of the EU Governance Regulation on the Energy Union and Climate Action (Regulation (EU) 2018/1999) . The initiative aims to simplify, strengthen and modernise the governance framework for planning, monitoring and reporting of EU energy and climate policies. The consultation closes on 12 March 2026, and the Commission’s legislative proposal is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, accompanied by an impact assessment.
Adopted in 2018, the Regulation established a governance mechanism to help the EU and its Member States reach the 2030 climate and energy targets and meet the Paris Agreement goals. The mechanism is built around National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), covering decarbonisation, energy efficiency, energy security, the internal energy market, and research, innovation and competitiveness.
The Commission says the revision is needed to reflect an evolving legislative landscape, including the European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package, and to ensure coherence, transparency and effective implementation in line with the EU’s 2030 and 2050 objectives and the Paris Agreement. It also aims to align the framework more closely with Europe’s strategic priorities, including affordability, competitiveness, decarbonisation, energy security and strategic autonomy, while streamlining planning and reporting obligations, reducing administrative burden and using further digitalisation where appropriate.
A central objective highlighted in the process is to develop NECPs into “real investment plans” that better link planning, reporting and investment and more efficiently direct public and private funding towards energy transition actions. The Commission’s evaluation last year concluded the Regulation has played an important role in keeping the EU on track for 2030 targets by making planning and reporting more coherent, integrated and streamlined, while identifying areas for improvement such as stronger coherence with other policy areas and increased stakeholder engagement.
For the building sector, the Commission notes that NECPs increasingly shape national approaches to energy efficiency, renovation strategies, electrification, renewable integration and decarbonisation pathways. If NECPs evolve into more robust investment frameworks, they could offer greater long-term certainty for building-related investments and accelerate the deployment of high-performance technologies and solutions, supporting EU climate targets and efforts to reduce energy demand, improve system efficiency and ensure healthy indoor environments.
DG ENER and DG CLIMA will also organise a technical stakeholder workshop on 3 March 2026 in Brussels, alongside the consultation process. REHVA said it will contribute to the public consultation and participate in the workshop. The Commission has linked the initiative to the 2024–2029 political guidelines for the second von der Leyen Commission, which include an ambition “to develop the governance needed for a true Energy Union”.
