From planning to delivery: how to make National Energy and Climate Plans more implementable and investable

The Local Alliance, representing Europe’s leading networks of local and regional governments and co-signed by FEDARENE, has released a position paper on the review of the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action Regulation, calling for a framework better suited to implementation and investment.

With the European Commission preparing a revision of the Governance Regulation, expected in the last quarter of 2026, the paper argues that the current framework remains valuable but incomplete. It does not sufficiently reflect how the energy transition is actually delivered on the ground, through local and regional plans, existing project pipelines and concrete investment.

The paper proposes a streamlined governance approach built on four connected elements:

1. A permanent multi-level dialogue platform in each Member State, bringing together national, regional and local authorities to align implementation, identify barriers and coordinate investment
2. A territorial chapter in NECPs, based on existing local and regional plans, giving a clear picture of where and how implementation will happen
3. Sectoral pathways that are territorially informed, linking national targets with local realities across sectors such as buildings, transport and energy
4. An investment strategy that accounts for local investment and capacity needs, including how they can be financed

The Coalition…