Alarming Figures: 9.3% of EU Population Can’t Afford Adequate Home Heating, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Warns

Alarming Figures: 9.3% of EU Population Can’t Afford Adequate Home Heating, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Warns

(IN BRIEF) Approximately 42 million people in the European Union (EU) are unable to afford proper heating for their homes, according to the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The EESC emphasized the need for the EU to take decisive action against energy poverty and protect its vulnerable citizens. At a conference held in Brussels, the EESC proposed a comprehensive strategy involving all levels of governance to address the issue. Measures include controlling inflation, reforming the electricity market, promoting energy-saving initiatives, increasing investment in renewables, improving building energy efficiency, facilitating access to EU funding, and integrating energy poverty concerns into transportation policies. The EESC stressed the importance of recognizing energy as a public service and ensuring a reliable and sustainable energy supply for all citizens. Detailed conclusions from the conference will be made available on the EESC website.

(PRESS RELEASE) BRUSSELS, 19-Jul-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) highlighted the urgent need for the EU to address the issue of energy poverty and protect its vulnerable citizens at its annual conference in Brussels. The conference revealed alarming data, indicating that approximately 42 million people across Europe, equivalent to 9.3% of EU citizens, struggled to adequately heat their homes in 2022.

Recent statistics from Eurostat (June 2023) showed a slight improvement in 2020 and 2021, with energy poverty affecting 8% and 6.9% of the population, respectively. However, the unprecedented surge in energy prices and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have exacerbated the situation in recent months, impacting even more individuals.

Baiba Miltoviča, President of the Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure, and the Information Society (TEN), stated that the current measures in place have proven ineffective, and a new deal supported by strong political will is necessary. The EESC emphasized the importance of a comprehensive strategy involving all levels of governance, including local, national, and European, to combat energy poverty.

The EESC proposes a multifaceted approach to tackle energy poverty, including the establishment of inflation control mechanisms, reforms in the electricity market, energy-saving measures to reduce energy demand, increased investment in renewables, enhanced building renovation to improve energy efficiency, streamlined access to EU funding for local communities, and the integration of transport poverty and energy poverty among women in energy-related policies.

Andrés Barceló Delgado, President of the EESC Permanent Group on Energy, stressed that access to essential energy services and products is of paramount importance. Energy is a public service and should not be treated as a commodity. Decision-makers must ensure a sustainable and reliable energy supply and guarantee the right to energy for all citizens during the upcoming redesign of the electricity market.

The detailed conclusions of the conference on Tackling energy poverty for a just transition will soon be available on the EESC website at https://www.eesc.europa.eu.

About European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
The European Economic and Social Committee is a consultative body of the European Union, representing civil society and providing a platform for organized civil society to express its views on EU policies and legislation. The EESC plays a crucial role in shaping EU policies and ensuring that the voices of European citizens are heard in the decision-making process.

Media contacts:

EESC Press Unit – Marco Pezzani
+32 (0)2 546 97 93 · Mob. +32 (0)470 881 903
marco.pezzani@eesc.europa.eu
Twitter: @EESC_PRESS

SOURCE: EESC