EU states urge swift publication of Heating and Cooling Strategy

Latvia, Austria, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Slovenia have jointly urged the European Commission to publish without delay a stand‑alone EU Heating and Cooling Strategy aligned with 2040 climate targets.

• Ministers from 11 Member States sent a joint letter on 9 December 2025 to Commissioner Jørgensen, stressing the central role of heating and cooling in achieving 2040 climate goals, calling for a comprehensive, cost‑efficient decarbonisation strategy that prioritises electrification, recognises other sustainable renewable energy sources, and reflects regional specificities and existing infrastructures.
• The letter recalls that 15 Member States previously issued a non‑paper and that Council Conclusions of 16 December 2024 called for such a strategy; the ministers welcome the Commission’s commitment to present a stand‑alone EU Heating and Cooling Strategy in Q1 2026 under the “Action Plan for Affordable Energy”, noting it should build on REPowerEU, enhance energy security, reduce energy poverty, and support energy system integration, sector coupling and flexibility.