August brought important developments for both the implementation and future direction of European climate policy. Across Central and Eastern Europe, governments continued working on Social Climate Plans, EU funding and energy policy, but progress remained uneven. At the same time, concerns over energy affordability, economic competitiveness and energy security continued to shape national debates. At […]
Developments across Central and Eastern Europe in June highlighted the growing contrast between countries making gradual progress on ETS2 implementation and Social Climate Plans (SCPs), and those where political priorities or institutional uncertainty continue to slow preparations. At the same time, governments increasingly turned their attention to wider energy security and public funding issues, while […]
The EU’s new Emissions Trading System for buildings and road transport (ETS2), launching in 2028, will gradually increase the cost of fossil fuels for heating and transport while generating funding to support the clean energy transition. But what will this mean for households across Central and Eastern Europe? In a new interview published by EUKI, […]
Political developments across Central and Eastern Europe continue to shape the implementation of climate and energy policies, particularly regarding ETS2, Social Climate Plans (SCPs), national recovery funding, and preparations for the next EU budget cycle. Several countries in the region have recently experienced political transitions. In Hungary, a new government took office in May, prioritising […]
Recent political developments across Central and Eastern Europe are increasingly shaping the future of climate and energy policy, particularly around ETS2, Social Climate Plans (SCPs), and public funding priorities. In Hungary, the opposition TISZA party led by Péter Magyar won the parliamentary elections with a constitutional majority, ending Viktor Orbán’s 16-year period in power. The […]
We invite to read two new insightful articles from Clean Air Action Group (Hungary). Katalin Tarr explores Hungary’s energy landscape following the recent elections. She examines how decades of state-backed energy subsidies — particularly Viktor Orbán’s “utility price cuts” policy — have created political and economic dependence on artificially low energy prices. While these measures […]
New thematic report examines how Central and Eastern European countries can prepare for the introduction of ETS2 and the Social Climate Fund (SCF). The report analyses key risks, opportunities and policy recommendations across Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Slovenia. ETS2 will extend carbon pricing to buildings and road transport, while the Social Climate Fund […]
Across Latvia, Bulgaria, Poland, Slovenia, and Romania, progress on key EU climate and social policy instruments—particularly ETS2, Social Climate Plans (SCPs), and NECPs—remains uneven and closely tied to national political and funding dynamics. In Latvia, preparations continue, but a notable policy shift is underway as Green Public Procurement moves from mandatory to voluntary criteria. Civil […]
A coalition of the European Environmental Bureau and civil society organisations from Latvia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania has warned the governments of EU Member States that postponing the EU’s new emissions trading system for buildings and road transport (ETS2) from 2027 to 2028 will increase social inequality, delay financial support for citizens, and […]
Proposal to avoid environmental, social, and economic damage due to the postponement of ETS2 We are a consortium of civil society organisations partnering in the EUKI-financed project ClimateFair Monitor: Towards climate-neutral buildings and road transport. We express our serious concerns about the postponement of ETS2 (the EU emission trading system for buildings and road transport) […]