The Federal Government and the government of Belgium’s three regions have reached agreement on a National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). The plan that was agreed on Monday is Belgium's commitment to reaching the European Union’s energy and climate goals. More than a year behind schedule, the plan will now be submitted to the European Commission. In addition to an agreement on the NECP, the federal government and the regions also agreed on how cash from the Social Climate Fund should be allocated between the federal state and the regions.
Progress on the NECP had been blocked for several months awaiting a climate and energy plan from the Flemish Government.
The National Energy and Climate Plan will now be submitted to the European Commission, more than a year behind schedule. A previous version submitted last year was rejected in June 2024 by the European Commission as it deemed it to be to insufficient.
Social Climate Fund
The Federal Government and the regions also agreed on how money from the Social Climate Fund should be distributed between the federal state and the regional authorities. Of the 65 billion euro that the EU is making available for the Fund between 2026 and 2032, Belgium will receive 1.659 billion euro. Of this 13.13% will go to Federal Government, 32.95%, 43.42% to Flanders and 10.5% to the Brussels-Capital Region.
The Social Climate Fund aims to support the energy transition while mitigating the social consequences of the expected price increases. These increases stem from the extension of the European carbon market (ETS2) to the transport and buildings sectors in 2027. The plan brings together a set of concrete measures to offer support to the most financially vulnerable households and small businesses.