European Commission launches infringement proceedings against Czechia and others over missing climate and energy plan

Brussels/Prague, 14 November (ČTK correspondent) – The Czech Republic is one of 13 countries the European Commission has criticised for still not having sent the final version of their national climate and energy plan to Brussels. The Commission has therefore launched infringement proceedings against Prague, according to a statement by the EU executive. The first stage is sending a letter formally notifying the country of the issue. The Ministry of Industry and Trade said today that the document was still under discussion and that the aim was to approve it as soon as possible.

Climate and energy plans are intended to inform the Commission, in particular, how each country intends to contribute to the EU’s targets for renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

„The European Commission has decided to launch infringement proceedings by sending a letter of formal notice to Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Malta, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and Slovakia for failing to submit their final updated National Energy and Climate Plans,“ the Commission said.

Member states were required to submit these plans by 30 June this year, but the Commission has so far received only 14. The 13 countries, including Czechia, now have two months to respond to the European Commission.

Regarding the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) said today that the document was still being discussed at government level, given the need to find a fiscally responsible approach to financing energy and climate measures. „The MPO’s aim is to submit the NECP to the government and send it to the European Commission as soon as possible. The ministry is in regular contact with the Commission,“ spokesperson Marek Vošahlík told ČTK.

Infringement proceedings have several stages. The European Commission first sends the member state a formal notice of the infringement, followed by a reasoned opinion. Only if the member state then fails to remedy the shortcomings adequately can the Commission decide to refer the matter to the EU court.

The country presented the first version of its National Energy and Climate Plan to the European Commission last year, after which the Commission returned it with its own recommendations. Under the plan, for example, the country intends to increase the share of renewable energy in final consumption to around 30 percent by 2030. Their share is also expected to rise in transport. The original plan also confirmed the Czech Republic’s phase-out of coal burning by 2033.

The government was due to discuss the NECP alongside other documents, including the updated State Energy Policy and Climate Protection Policy, in the summer, but ultimately postponed them. According to some critics, the climate documents in particular could lead, for example, to the introduction of emissions allowances in transport and for households, as well as higher energy costs. The MPO, on the other hand, denied that the documents introduced new measures that would increase transport or energy costs. Industry and Trade Minister Lukáš Vlček (STAN) said after being appointed to the post in October that the climate documents would need further refinement.