The key task for the new European Commission is to advance the green energy transition in a way that fosters unity and reduces social inequalities, especially in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) – a region particularly exposed to polarization and climate disinformation.
Written by Dana Marekova*, (Klimatická koalícia, Slovakia) and Genady Kondarev*, Bulgaria-based expert working on the energy transition of CEE.
One year ago, tens of thousands of European farmers took to the streets to protest EU climate policies. Eurosceptic, far-right voices have gained ground, including in the European Parliament. At the same time, rising energy prices and deteriorating housing conditions have left many communities vulnerable to disinformation, which sows doubt about the EU‘s climate goals. Nowhere are these challenges more evident than in CEE, where the stakes of a just energy transition are especially high.
The newly elected CEE Commissioners understand these dynamics better than anyone. That is why it is essential that, while advancing EU climate goals, they emphasize social cohesion and inclusion. The European Green Deal and Fit for 55 set a clear trajectory, but the journey ahead requires unity and attention to those most at risk—particularly workers and households in precarious situations.
A Team Effort
Central and Eastern Europe represents roughly one-fourth of the EU’s population – a significant share that carries both influence and responsibility. However, the region has often fallen back on the “Brussels blame game,” deflecting accountability for domestic inefficiencies. This game is over: the CEE countries must now ensure a smoother fund absorption, better leverage of private finance, investment opportunities for all and progressive policies.
Especially that there is a new – better – game for the CEE countries to play and it’s called cooperation. The portfolios of the CEE Commissioners are deeply interconnected, providing an avenue for impactful collaboration. Ekaterina Zaharieva’s work on fostering research and startups complements Jozef Síkela’s mandate to build international partnerships for energy security. PIotr Serafin, managing the EU’s budget, has the power to ensure funds are directed effectively, including on Roxana Minzatu’s social initiatives. Maroš Šefčovič’s role in Trade and Economic Security can align economic interests with climate goals, ensuring that competitiveness and sustainability go hand in hand. Together, these leaders have the tools to shape an energy transformation that benefits the entire region.
Funding Unity, Not Division
One of the Commissioners’ primary challenges will be ensuring that EU funds are used to promote cohesion rather than division. The Just Transition Fund, the Cohesion Fund, and the Social Climate Fund have already supported transformative investments across the region. Now, it is imperative to expand these initiatives strategically. Simply distributing untargeted cash risks undermining progress. Instead, these funds must bridge the energy divide, particularly in CEE countries that remain heavily reliant on fossil fuels and lack robust renewable energy infrastructure.
Josef Síkela and Piotr Serafin have a critical role to play in ensuring investments align with the region’s socio-economic realities while advancing sustainability. At the same time, the European Commission must enforce accountability, linking funding to rule-of-law commitments. And importantly, local authorities and civil society – longstanding drivers of the green transition – should also have a greater voice in shaping these financial mechanisms.
Addressing the Cost of Living Crisis
The escalating cost of living crisis has made the stakes of the green transition even higher. Rising energy prices, growing poverty, and worsening housing conditions threaten the social foundation necessary for an equitable energy shift. Roxana Minzatu, leading efforts on the Social Climate Fund, has an essential role in supporting low-income households, a particularly urgent task in CEE, where energy poverty is often more acute than in the rest of the EU. Her work aligns with Dan Jørgensen’s leadership of the new Taskforce for Housing, aimed at decarbonizing residential heating and cooling in a socially equitable manner. Together, their initiatives can ensure that no region, particularly in the CEE, is left behind.
The Social Imperative of EU Energy Policies
Amid this push for transformation, the EU is also advancing initiatives like the Clean Industrial Deal and ETS2, which aim to decarbonize industries and create green jobs. While these policies bring significant opportunities, they also pose social and economical risks, particularly for the CEE. The new Commissioners must prioritize addressing these issues. For example, Ekaterina Zaharieva’s focus on reducing fragmentation in innovation sectors could empower startups and SMEs to develop the green technologies crucial for decarbonization. Yet, this is not a task for individual portfolios. A unified effort is needed to ensure that these policies uplift communities rather than deepen inequalities.
A Shared Green Future
Europe’s energy transformation must bring its citizens together, not drive them apart. For the CEE region, this means balancing environmental imperatives with social justice, ensuring that the transition uplifts workers, strengthens communities, and fosters cohesion across borders. The new CEE Commissioners have a unique opportunity to lead this charge, leveraging their interconnected portfolios to align economic, social, and environmental goals. By prioritizing cooperation and equity, they can ensure that the green transition becomes not just a necessity but a shared success story for Europe as a whole. And our role, as the representatives of civil society, will be to do the ongoing “reality check” – to check if the policies are being implemented properly and to assess their effectiveness. We also need to make sure that the EU institutions take differences between Member States into account and make the most of their potential. The European Commission – who has not necessarily been very active in communicating the benefits of European policies to “people on the ground” – should focus more and develop better tools to explain and even promote the EU policies to citizens. If these tasks are done well, the CEE region can be a success story and a driver of the energy transition in Europe.
The Authors
Genady Kondarev is an economist and environmental campaigner specializing in climate and energy politics in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Based in Bulgaria, he brings over 15 years of expertise in analyzing national energy strategies and National Energy and Climate Plans, advocating for their alignment with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Dana Mareková is a lawyer and environmental campaigner, co-founder of the Climate Coalition Slovakia. For over 25 years, she has been collaborating with grassroots movements and European and international NGOs on climate, clean air, public finance, nuclear, transparency and effective participation.
