The European Commission has released its evaluation of Portugal’s National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP), highlighting Portugal’s failure to address three key recommendations, including those pertaining to fossil fuels. The report, published today in Brussels, emphasizes that while Portugal’s plan acknowledges the need to phase out fossil fuel subsidies by 2030 to meet international commitments, it lacks specific measures and a clear timeline for achieving this.
The evaluation criticizes Portugal for not enhancing its energy efficiency targets, despite including such goals in its plan. Furthermore, while the plan outlines the main funding sources for the energy and climate transition, it fails to provide detailed investment requirements. The European Commission points out the absence of a strategy to mobilize private investments or distinguish between public and private investments, limiting the ability to assess any potential funding shortfall or its resolution.
The Commission urges Portugal to ensure the timely and comprehensive implementation of the updated NECP, recommending the development of a specific roadmap to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies, renovate buildings to enhance efficiency and reduce energy poverty, and establish a financial strategy to translate commitments into concrete actions for a just transition.
Suggestions also extend to incentives for electric vehicles and alternative mobility solutions, the creation of an optimized electricity grid with improved capacity allocation, storage and system flexibility, and the prioritization of green hydrogen.
The report acknowledges that Portugal’s plan adequately addresses key reforms and investments from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) that contribute to the EU’s energy union objectives. Currently, 33% of the Portuguese PRR is implemented, with nearly 55% of its budget dedicated to the ‘green’ transition, according to updated data from Brussels.
The European Commission’s findings indicate that the EU is on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 54% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, if Member States fully implement existing and planned national measures and EU policies. The EU aims for at least a 55% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990, a 42.5% renewable energy share in gross final energy consumption, and a 11.7% improvement in energy efficiency.
Portugal supports these targets with commitments such as achieving 51% renewables by 2030, phasing out coal-fired electricity production, and eradicating energy poverty by 2050.
