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

Belgium takes over EU Council presidency

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 following presidency Hungary cooperate with Belgium.

In the context of the Belgian Presidency of the European Union, Belgium invites energy ministers to Brussels. During the informal council, ministers will be invited to discuss one of the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: the importance of smartening and reinforcing our energy infrastructures, and the challenges we currently face. The informal council will include four plenary sessions, with a central focus on the development of a more integrated energy infrastructure. A working lunch on the resilience of our critical energy infrastructures and a cultural event at Flagey (Brussels) are also on the programme.

Following the succession of coups in the Sahel and West Africa, European Commission President von der Leyen made it clear in her State of the Union address on 13 September 2023, that the EU does not intend to withdraw from the field, but to rethink its strategic presence in the region, and in Africa at large: 'we need to show the same unity of purpose towards Africa as we have shown for Ukraine. We need to focus on cooperation with legitimate governments and regional organisations. And we need to develop a mutually beneficial partnership which focuses on common issues for Europe and Africa. This is why, together with High Representative Borrell, we will work on a new strategic approach to take forward at the next EU-AU Summit.'

Meeting of EU heads of state and government in Brussels. The leaders will meet for an Informal European Council to continue discussions on the Strategic Agenda for 2024–2029, i.e. the priorities of the European Union for the next five years. The provisional agenda speaks of a "new European competitiveness deal".

Think tank E3G has put together a briefing note on the strategic agenda, and says that climate should be kept firmly on the agenda. "The European Green Deal is the EU’s blueprint for modernising the economy, ramping up competitiveness, and building energy and socio-economic security," it writes. "Now is the time to update and accelerate it by agreeing an ambitious 2040 emissions target, strengthening climate resilience, embedding a just transition, and turning policies into action."

More on climate and energy in the next legislative period and beyond comes from the think tank German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), which published a paper titled The Next Phase of European Climate Policy: Laying the Groundwork with the 2040 Target.

This is one of several regular annual meetings of EU energy ministers.

Every five years EU citizens choose who represents them in the European Parliament, the directly-elected institution in the EU decision-making process. In an elaborate process which involves member state governments, the parliament then votes to elect the European Commission -- the EU's executive body which is in charge of drawing up and presenting draft proposals to change EU legislation. 

The elections take place every five years and are the largest transnational elections in the world. By voting in the European elections, people living in the EU get to choose the members that will represent them in the European Parliament until 2029.

The 2024 G7 Summit will be held in Borgo Egnazia, in Apulia, Italy. The event will bring together the leaders of the seven member States, as well as the president of the European Council and the president of the European Commission representing the European Union.

Energy and climate cooperation, as well as countering migration, will be among the top priorities of Italy's G7 presidency this year. Led by prime minister Giorgia Meloni, the country's right-wing government will bring its contradictory climate and energy policy to the G7 presidency, experts say. One of the main concerns is Rome’s strong fossil fuel ties due to state-owned oil and gas company Eni, which could weaken the country's climate-friendly transition and dent its international reputation. Expectations are high for Meloni as the host of the G7 leaders' summit in the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in the southeastern Puglia region.

Every five years, EU leaders agree on the EU's political priorities for the future. It takes place in the context of the European Parliament elections and ahead of the appointment of each European Commission. Charles Michel, president of the European Council, is leading the process by working closely with leaders of EU countries. He will set out topics for discussion at EU summits all the way through to the first half of 2024. The strategic agenda is set to be adopted at a European Council meeting in June 2024. [Find the 2019-2024 agenda here]

Meeting of EU heads of state and government.

This is one of several regular annual meetings of EU environment ministers.

This is one of several regular annual meetings of EU transport ministers.

This is one of four regular meetings of EU heads of state and government as the European Council.

EU member states are currently in the process of updating their national energy and climate plans (NECP), which contain key targets and policy plans. The deadline for submitting a first draft to the Commission was 30 June 2023, and by early 2024, there were still some countries who had not sent theirs in. By end of June this year, governments must submit their final version.

After the elections, EU leaders will agree on and propose a candidate for the post of European Commission president for the years 2024-2029, taking into account the election results.

Hungary takes over EU Council presidency

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.

The candidate for European Commisison president will present their policy priorities, and then is up for election in the European Parliament, likely in July 2024.

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.

After confirmation through a vote in the European Parliament, the Commission can start its term. The president will give instructions to each Commissioner in "mission letters", which can be a treasure trove of information for journalists.