Europe’s Electrification Plan can only succeed with local governments
The European Commission has presented its Electrification Action Plan, setting out how Europe can accelerate the transition to clean electricity across buildings, industry and transport and reduce costs of future-proof solutions. For CEMR, this is an important step towards a more competitive, secure and decarbonised Europe.
Efficient electrification is no longer a sectoral energy policy – it is becoming a defining element of Europe’s economic and territorial transformation. That is why local and regional governments must be fully involved to make the plan a success.
The Action Plan rightly recognises the need for major investments in electricity grids, energy storage, renewable energy, electric mobility and cleaner heating systems.
CEMR welcomes the Commission’s proposal to support local heating and cooling planning through the European City Facility. The programme will begin with €15 million to help 180 local and regional governments prepare local plans before expanding to support up to 1,000 local plans, ready for investments.
CEMR also welcomes the focus on clean heating solutions, including heat pumps and district heating and cooling, which already play an important role in the transition in many towns, cities and regions. Local governments are leading projects and investments in these solutions and help make buildings and neighbourhoods more sustainable. At the same time, CEMR stresses that support measures and new requirements must work together in a coordinated way.
CEMR also highlights the importance of efficient waste-to-energy use for waste that cannot be recycled. EU legislation should clearly recognise energy recovered from non-recyclable waste and ensure that emissions from the fossil part of waste are allocated fairly to producers and waste generators, rather than to district heating operators or energy users.
While the Commission calls for simplifying permitting procedures for clean energy projects, implementation will occur locally. Every new charging station, heat pump, district heating network, energy storage facility or grid connection depends on local planning, permits and cooperation with citizens and stakeholders. Local and regional governments are therefore not only implementing the transition; they are strategic partners in shaping the transition. Efficient permitting requires locally and regionally grounded solutions and processes with early coordination among stakeholders, rather than uniform EU-wide deadlines.
Europe’s regions also face different challenges. Solutions that work in large cities may not be suitable for rural areas, islands, or industrial regions. Recognising the skills and capacity gap at the technical and administrative level is essential. A flexible, place-based approach is key to ensure that every community can benefit from electrification.
Since Europe’s electrification targets will ultimately be delivered in its cities, towns and regions, the local and regional governments are already investing in the infrastructure needed for the transition, from electricity grids and heating networks to electric vehicle charging stations.
CEMR therefore welcomes the ambition of the Electrification Action Plan and its recognition of the opportunities offered by clean electricity and modern heating and cooling solutions. To make the Plan a success, local and regional governments must have the resources, flexibility and role they need as full partners in Europe’s energy transition.
CEMR will continue to contribute to this work in the months ahead and is awaiting the European Cooling and Heating Action Plan to be announced.
Read the European Commission’s press release: Commission boosts Europe’s competitiveness, decarbonisation and independence and the plan itself: eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52026DC0595
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Policy Officer – Climate and Energy
