Source: European Parliament
The Commission is aware of this study[1], which shows that in the absence of complementary measures, the annual increase in heating costs for households in the lowest six deciles in Belgium could range from EUR 154 to EUR 261 or 0.8% to 0.6% of total expenditure, and from EUR 53 to EUR 158 or 0.6% to 0.5% for transport costs. These estimations are coherent with the Commission’s impact assessment[2] for the review of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) Directive[3].
Europe’s reliance on imported fossil fuels causes energy price volatility and higher supply costs. The Commission and Member States are working towards the timely implementation of the new Emission Trading System for buildings and road transport (ETS2) in combination with complementary measures to decouple people’s energy bills from fossil fuel cost volatility.
The Social Climate Fund (SCF)[4] is designed to address the impact of ETS2 on vulnerable households. For those not eligible under the SCF, Member States also must target the national ETS2 revenues[5] at measures to anticipate and address its effects.
The Affordable Energy Action Plan[6] aims at lowering energy costs by improving energy efficiency and energy savings and by addressing other aspects of the energy market that influence energy prices.
The upcoming Citizens Energy Package[7] will focus on activating citizens to produce, sell and use their own energy and on tackling energy poverty.
As part of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive[8], Member States are also developing targets, policies and measures and related financing for building renovations that reduce exposure to fossil fuels and alleviate energy poverty. A range of policies are also available for Member States to incentivise electrification and clean technologies.
- [1] https://energyville.be/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ETS2-paper_final-15042025.pdf.
- [2] SWD(2021) 601 final.
- [3] Directive 2003/87/EC.
- [4] The SCF amounts to EUR 86.7 billion for the period 2026-2032.
- [5] National ETS2 revenues are estimated to amount to EUR 270 billion for the period 2027-2030.
- [6] COM/2025/79.
- [7] https://energy.ec.europa.eu/news/citizens-energy-package-commission-starts-consultation-process-2025-06-19_en.
- [8] Directive (EU) 2024/1275.