What’s next in Europe? – Agenda of European climate and energy policy

Denmark takes over EU Council presidency

Denmark assumes the 6-months presidency of the EU Council. The presidency will prioritise security and competitiveness, the government said. The government emphasises that “the green transition is essential to building a more secure and competitive Europe.” Denmark's climate and energy minister Lars Aagaard said that grid infrastructure plans, a climate target for 2040, and details on the EU's move to end its dependence on Russian energy imports are key priorities for the Danish government during the presidency.

Find the website of the Danish Council presidency here.

The Council represents the executive governments of member states, and the presidency rotates among EU member states every six months. It is not only responsible for setting policy priorities and planning and chairing meetings among ministers and heads of government, but must also try and reach agreement on laws with the EU’s other legislative bodies – the Commission and the Parliament. Member states holding the presidency work together closely in groups of three, called 'trios'. Preceding presidency Poland and following presidency Cyprus cooperate with Denmark. [More on the presidency]

EU member state environment ministers come together for a special meeting. They plan to debate the 2040 climate target and the EU's nationally determined contribution (NDC) with a headline climate target for 2035. However, media reported that a decision on the 2040 target was taken off the agenda. Further debate is now delayed to a meeting of heads of state and government in October. 

The Danish government invites EU member state heads of state and government to Denmark.

The creation of a European Commissioner for the Mediterranean – held by Croatian politician Dubravka Šuica since the end of 2024 – is part of a renewed push to give the region more play, after earlier attempts lacked steam. Šuica is tasked with working out a “New Pact for the Mediterranean”, including a “Trans-Mediterranean Energy and Clean Tech Cooperation Initiative” to increase renewable energy trading and boost clean tech manufacturing in the region.

The Pact is currently in preparation by the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) in consultation with partner countries, EU member states, and local authorities, civil society, academia, research institutions, the business sector, and other interested parties from both the EU and the Southern Mediterranean region, reported Brussels Times. “We are consolidating input from the consultations and preparing to present the Pact for the Mediterranean in mid-October, ahead of the 30th anniversary year of the Barcelona Declaration in November,” Commissioner Šuica told the outlet.

EU member state environment ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

EU member state heads of state and government come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

EU member state agriculture ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

EU member state transport ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

EU member state agriculture ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

EU member state energy ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

EU member state environment ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

EU member state heads of state and government come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

The Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator act will support energy-intensive industries and is dedicated to simplifying legislation to streamline permit granting, authorisations and reporting requirements and make investment easier in Europe.

[This factsheet answers key questions on the Clean Industrial Deal.]

As part of efforts to streamline and simplify corporate sustainability rules, the Commission will also propose changes to the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. This is interlinked with proposals for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the EU Taxonomy Regulation, presented earlier in the year.