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

Hungary takes over EU Council presidency

In an interview with French Le Point, Orban laid out the five priorities for the Hungarian presidency: migration, the war in Ukraine, the green transition, defence, and the "demographic crisis". He said: "The European Union has long claimed that the green transition was not in contradiction with European competitiveness, but would actually increase it. Clearly, the opposite is true. We need to rethink this green transition before it kills our industry." The official programme was presented on 18 June.

However, as the EU will likely need almost the entire 6 months of the Hungarian presidency to establish the Parliament and then elect a new Commission, there is set to be little chance for policymaking and legislative work.

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 presidencies Spain and Belgium cooperate with Hungary. [More on the presidency]

EU agriculture ministers meet in Budapest.

European Commission president von der Leyen in 2023 asked former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi to draft a report about the future of European competitiveness. Draghi is set to present the report on 9 September, and it will also contain a chapter on climate change. Draghi told policymakers ahead of the report presentation that the European Union is falling behind global rivals due to limited innovation, high energy prices and skills gaps, but did not disclose his proposals, reported Reuters. There will be a press conference with Commission president von der Leyen on 9 September at 11am.

Since 2015, the EU has been cultivating an Energy Union, which seeks to build energy security and solidarity, a fully integrated internal market, support research and competitiveness, and accelerate energy efficiency and climate action toward the goal of carbon neutral EU economy by 2050. The Commission annually publishes reports on the state of the Energy Union.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has asked member states to propose several candidates to become Commissioners in this legislative term. She interviews the candidates and puts together a team with one person from each country, and decides which portfolio should go to which candidate. ANSA reported that the European Parliament has invited von der Leyen to meet with the heads of the political groups and the president of the institution on 11 September to present to them the final distribution of her team. However, it is not clear whether she will make it public before or after that closed-doors-meeting.

EU finance ministers meet in Budapest. The first day is set aside for debates about the green transition.

EU transport ministers meet in Budapest.

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

Voters in Austria will head to the polls on 29 September. The far-right populist Freedom Party of Austria’s (FPÖ) has been leading in national polls and came out as the strongest party in the EU elections in June. The party is in favour of some climate policy measures such as renewables expansion, but opposes others, such as the national CO2 price or state subsidies to phase out fossil fuel heating. Find out more about the impact that far-right populist parties have on European climate efforts in CLEW's deep dive.

The new European Commission president will put together the designate-college of Commissioners in close coordination with member state governments. The relevant European Parliament committees organise hearings and essentially have to agree to the individual candidates. This is a crucial opportunity to find out about priorities of the future Commission, and might yet lead to candidates being exchanged. The president will give instructions to each Commissioner in "mission letters", which can be a treasure trove of information for journalists. Politico reported that due to delays hearings aren’t likely to begin until mid-October.

EU member state environment ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings. Ministers could agree the EU's negotiation position for the UN climate change conference COP29 in Azerbaijan in November (the position for COP28 was decided around the same time in 2023). A draft seen by Reuters showed member states will demand that countries significantly step up their efforts to cut emissions by following through on the deal struck at last year's COP28 summit in Dubai to "transition away from fossil fuels". The European Parliament is also working on a position to feed into the EU's position.

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.

Ahead of the UN climate change conference COP29 in Azerbaijan (11 - 22 November), the Commission plans to present a Communication on Energy and Climate Diplomacy.

It is member state governments in the Council who will agree conclusions to serve as the EU’s general negotiating position at the conference.

The European Parliament could also agree a resolution, like it did for COP28 last year.

EU member state heads of state and government meet in Budapest.

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

After confirmation through a vote in the European Parliament, the Commission can start its term. Politico reported that a start in December has become more likely, because the Parliament is set to start Commissioner hearings later than initially thought.

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.