Energy communities: "An ambitious European objective that will probably not be achieved" (ECA)

The EU's objective of setting up energy communities "is ambitious, but it is ill-conceived, suffers from a lack of support, is insufficiently monitored and is unlikely to be achieved", says a special report by the European Court of Auditors, published on 09/03/2026.

The report, entitled "Energy Communities: Untapped Potential", looks at the actions of the European Commission and four Member States: Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania.

According to the definition introduced in the RED II regulation (Renewable Energy Directive), energy communities are "legal entities that empower citizens, small businesses and local authorities to produce, manage, share and consume their own energy".

The target set in 2022 was for the EU and its Member States to work together to establish "at least one renewable energy community in every municipality with a population of more than 10,000 by 2025".

By January 2025, however, "only 27% of this target had been met", notes the report.

Among the obstacles identified is a lack of clarity regarding the legal definition of renewable energy communities and…