While the European Commission recently stated that Member States have “significantly closed the gap” toward the EU’s 2030 climate and energy goals with their final National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), a new analysis released today by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe paints a far more cautious picture. According to the NGO, many of these plans still lack the ambition, policy detail, funding, and implementation strategies necessary to meet their stated objectives.

“The targets are within reach—but with only five years left, implementation must become the top priority,” said Brigitta Bozso, energy and climate expert at CAN Europe. “Plans alone won’t reduce emissions or reap the benefits of the energy transition.”

The assessment, titled “EU Climate Goals at Risk – NECPs’ Ambitious Implementation Must Close the Gaps,” highlights structural shortcomings in the areas of ambition, financing, just transition, public participation, and enforcement that continue to hamper the effectiveness of the NECPs.

Only half of the NECPs assessed include policy scenarios that align with the emission reductions required in key sectors such as agriculture, transport, buildings, and waste. In the area of energy efficiency, most plans fail to meet the minimum contributions mandated under the Energy Efficiency Directive, leading to an EU-wide energy savings shortfall of 8.1%.

Equally concerning, many Member States have not explained how their measures will be financed. Most NECPs lack a clear connection between proposed actions and funding sources, casting doubt on whether their ambition will be matched by investment.

“It’s like setting a destination, but forgetting to plan the route,” Bozso emphasized. “Now Member States need to choose the most ambitious path forward—with solid policies, secured funding, and inclusive public engagement guiding the way.”

“Strong NECP implementation is not just about ticking climate boxes,” she added. “It’s a chance to deliver cleaner air, lower energy bills, healthier communities, and new job opportunities.”

With the 2040 climate target on the horizon, implementation of the NECPs is now a critical opportunity to drive real progress. NECPs must move beyond reporting and become tools for change—supporting a fairer society and forming the backbone of EU climate action in the years to come.

“Closing the remaining gaps will take coordinated effort,” Bozso concluded. “The European Commission and Member States must work together—urgently and decisively—to improve and implement these plans.”

National perspectives: common gaps, country-specific challenges

• Germany: “To meet our climate targets, we urgently need progress in two key sectors: buildings and transport. The Commission’s own review shows that Germany’s transport gap is nearly as large as the gap for the entire EU. The new German government must quickly introduce a bold electrification strategy,” said Charly Heberer, Senior Advisor at Germanwatch.

• Bulgaria: “The plan looks relatively good on paper, but still misses the EU’s minimum requirements for LULUCF and final energy consumption. Without stronger policies in transport, energy efficiency, and waste, the plan’s real impact remains uncertain. Delaying action is not an option,” warned Radostina Slavkova, Climate and Energy Policy Expert at Za Zemiata.

• Czechia: “The Czech NECP proves that cutting emissions by 2030 is both feasible and economically smart—but the policies to make it happen are missing. Without stronger action on renewables, energy savings, and fossil fuel subsidies, the plan risks falling short,” said Št?pán Vizi, Climate Policy Expert at the Centre for Transport and Energy.

Next milestone: social climate plans due in june

The end of June 2025 marks the next major deadline, as Member States must submit their national Social Climate Plans, outlining how they will use the EU Social Climate Fund to support vulnerable households during the energy transition.

EU countries were required to submit updated NECPs to the European Commission by 30 June 2024. As of today, Belgium and Poland have still not submitted their final plans, and Estonia’s NECP has been approved by the government but not yet published by the Commission.

NECPs are legally binding national strategies that translate EU climate targets—like those set out in the European Green Deal—into national policies and actions. The recent briefing “Do Final NECPs Sufficiently Address EU-Level Just Transition Requirements?” stresses the need for a shift in how Member States approach just transition, emphasizing equity, affordability, and inclusion.