Right to Energy for all Europeans to be promoted at the European Parliament

(17 May 2017) Today nearly 11% of the European Union’s population faces a situation of energy poverty. They are not able to adequately heat their homes at an affordable cost. A study published by the European Commission, lists rising energy prices, low income and poor energy efficient homes as the main causes of this problem. This is the framework of the publication of a joint policy paper from European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) and  the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU).

The paper argues that the rising energy costs make energy poverty a growing concern, particularly in the context of stagnant or declining disposable incomes and therefore the upcoming legislative package called the 'winter package' should have a clear rights-based approach that no European is cut from power supply.

This will be the line that EAPN and EPSU will defend at the European Parliament and towards the European Commission.

Energy poverty will be eradicated thanks to the implementation of the following measures:

  • The Right to Energy for all by introducing concrete EU legislation banning disconnections for vulnerable consumers at critical times.
  • Stop the phasing out of regulated prices in the energy sector for domestic households and support social tariffs for vulnerable customers.
  • Assign an ambitious share of public investment in energy efficiency towards measures targeting low income households ensuring no additional costs in housing or bills for these households.

To read the joint policy document in EN, FR and DE (online reading)

To print the joint policy document in EN, FR and DE (printing)