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Analysis and guidelines for a sustainable and socially fair energy transition

Doc. 16182: compendium of written amendments | Doc. 16182 | 25/06/2025 | Final version

Compendium index

Amendment 1 Amendment 2 Amendment 3

Caption: AdoptedRejectedWithdrawnNo electronic votes

ADraft Resolution

1Clean, safe and affordable energy is essential to securing Europe’s continued prosperity. It is also central in addressing the triple planetary crisis of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss. As part of the international community’s efforts, the Council of Europe member States have committed to changing their legislation and policies in the light of the Sustainable Development Goals, climate treaties and the European Green Deal.
2This commitment was further strengthened at the Reykjavik Summit when member States of the Council of Europe recognised that “human rights and the environment are intertwined” and that “a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is integral to the full enjoyment of human rights by present and future generations”. The Parliamentary Assembly considers that socio-economic transformation, including the transition to a more sustainable energy system, is essential in this collective endeavour and should follow a human rights-based approach as both the goal of a clean and safe energy system, and the transition towards it, are strongly affecting basic human rights.
3The Assembly highlights the importance of stable access to clean energy for the enjoyment of fundamental social rights to housing, work, health, education, protection from poverty and social exclusion, as well as the rights of vulnerable persons (notably children, persons with disabilities and older persons), as enshrined in the European Social Charter (revised) (ETS No. 35 and ETS No. 163). The Assembly is concerned that in Europe, millions of people still experience energy poverty caused by a combination of low income, high energy costs and poor energy efficiency in buildings, as well as the choice of transport modes. In line with the requirements of the Charter, States have the obligation to remedy and prevent, as far as possible, the situation of energy poverty. A well-designed national energy transition strategy with strong social and economic dimensions is crucial to this end.
4The Assembly acknowledges the challenges of building sustainable and socially fair energy systems in member States. The transition to renewable energy technology requires strong and stable investment, social adaptation and decisive governance measures to guide and support citizens and businesses in adapting to renewable energy systems. There is a need to embrace new technologies, improve energy efficiency in companies, housing and modes of transport and change both products and procedures, including their location. Special attention is needed for citizens to view the transition as a positive development.
5The Assembly considers that the transition to clean energy systems presents real opportunities for European countries to boost the resilience of their national economies against external shocks, strengthen energy security, enhance competitiveness with green technologies, empower consumers and improve public health. This complex undertaking requires a holistic vision accompanied by ambitious and stable long-term policies, sectoral synergies and coherent investment strategies, aimed at supporting large-scale deployment of renewable energy sources and phase out fossil fuels which, according to the International Energy Agency, still account for around 70% of energy produced in Europe. The Assembly highlights that new investment in solar and wind projects in the European Union is now cheaper than that in coal and gas.

25 June 2025

Tabled by Mr Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Mr Markus WIECHEL, Ms Iryna KONSTANKEVYCH, Mr Oleksandr MEREZHKO, Mr Arminas LYDEKA, Ms Larysa BILOZIR, Mr Eerik-Niiles KROSS, Ms Lesia VASYLENKO, Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 5, insert the following paragraph:

"The Assembly expresses grave concern that the Russian Federation’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine has dramatically exposed the vulnerability of energy systems to armed conflict. Repeated and deliberate attacks by the Russian Federation on Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure have led to severe disruptions in energy supply, threatening not only the safety and well-being of millions of civilians but also undermining regional energy security. The Assembly underscores that military aggression against energy systems is not only a violation of international humanitarian law but also a threat to global climate and energy transition goals."

Explanatory note

Self-explanatory

6The Assembly believes that in exercising their responsibility for ensuring access to clean, safe and affordable energy for all which is a key goal of transition, States should act through regulatory and budgetary tools on three main axes: providing for adequate energy supplies by maximising investment in clean, locally available energy sources; designing fair pricing strategies that underpin responsible production and use of energy; and supporting vulnerable users in their transition to more sustainable and energy efficient systems. Measures should prioritise the transport and housing sectors which are the largest energy consumers and significant emitters of greenhouse gases in Europe.
7The Assembly welcomes the targets of cutting national greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% and enhancing the share of renewable energy to 45% of the national energy mix by 2030 under the European Green Deal. It also welcomes the European Union’s Action Plan for Affordable Energy and it underlines that switching to more environment-friendly sources of energy and improving efficiency of energy use make good economic sense by saving costs for households, businesses and States in the long term and enhancing energy security through abundant free-of-charge local resources, while also benefiting society at large in terms of better public health, improved well-being and reduced pollution. However, in the transition phase, States should protect citizens, notably vulnerable groups, against expensive lock-in problems and help support high transition costs, especially in rural areas.
8The Assembly calls on member States to steer sustainable energy policy choices for all stakeholders at national level, while at the same time ensuring their consistent and long-term implementation by building synergies through co-operation at pan-European level. It therefore recommends to member States to:
8.1consolidate their national strategy for transitioning to clean, safe and affordable energy and promote it through a public communication campaign highlighting the advantages of embracing renewable energy sources;
8.2put in place more incentives for investment in sustainable mobility, renovation of older buildings, green technologies and smart grids to improve energy efficiency, where appropriate through public-private partnerships;
8.3considering that data centres and artificial intelligence applications significantly increase energy consumption, make better use of artificial intelligence as a powerful tool to develop policies that can dramatically foster energy transition;
8.4consider the possibilities offered by the Council of Europe Development Bank for financing projects that promote a sustainable and socially fair energy transition;
8.5promote local production of clean energy by private and public stakeholders, notably through local co-operative initiatives;
8.6eliminate public subsidies to fossil fuels and scale down public investment in such sources of energy;
8.7foster sustainable mobility by improving public transport infrastructure, accessibility and affordability, encouraging walking and cycling, and accelerating the shift to shared mobility and clean vehicles;
8.8with a view to shielding vulnerable members of society from energy poverty, consider using structural measures such as:
8.8.1price caps and tax reductions to offset the effect of spikes in energy prices;
8.8.2targeted payments and income support for the most vulnerable;
8.8.3grants to implement housing renovation schemes and facilitate the acquisition of electric vehicles;
8.8.4bans on disconnection of vulnerable users from energy supply;
8.8.5professional training schemes to enable workers acquire new skills and access green jobs in the energy sector;
8.9involve citizens and municipalities in the shaping and implementation of local energy partnerships, in order to empower them as prosumers (producers-consumers);
8.10develop socially fair green taxation schemes that favour transition to clean energy by stimulating investment and shifting financial burden onto polluting activities and away from green solutions;
8.11engage in regional cross-border projects aimed at optimising interconnections, improving network stability and guaranteeing mutual support in situations of disruption in energy supply;
8.12invest in back-up and storage capacity to manage fluctuations in renewable energy supply and demand;
8.13support job creation in sectors that underpin the transition to a sustainable energy system and set up social transition funds to help employees to move from fossil fuel based sectors to clean sectors;
8.14conduct regular and independent energy audits at national level to track progress and ensure accountability in the clean energy transition.

25 June 2025

Tabled by Mr Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Mr Markus WIECHEL, Ms Iryna KONSTANKEVYCH, Mr Oleksandr MEREZHKO, Mr Arminas LYDEKA, Ms Larysa BILOZIR, Mr Eerik-Niiles KROSS, Ms Lesia VASYLENKO, Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 8.14, insert the following paragraph:

"provide continued technical, material and financial support to Ukraine for the restoration, renewal and modernisation of its civilian energy systems. Such support should prioritise decentralised, renewable and resilient energy solutions, helping to rebuild Ukraine’s energy sector in line with European clean energy goals and to ensure the population’s access to electricity, heating and critical services."

Explanatory note

Self-explanatory

25 June 2025

Tabled by Mr Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Mr Markus WIECHEL, Ms Iryna KONSTANKEVYCH, Mr Oleksandr MEREZHKO, Mr Arminas LYDEKA, Mr Serhii SOBOLIEV, Ms Larysa BILOZIR, Mr Eerik-Niiles KROSS, Ms Lesia VASYLENKO, Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 8.14, insert the following paragraph:

"strongly condemn any military aggression targeting civilian energy infrastructure, and support co-ordinated efforts to hold perpetrators accountable under international law."

Explanatory note

Self-explanatory