The European Commission has finally responded to our October 2024 open letter, which demanded the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies across the EU. While the response acknowledges the need for action, it lacks the urgency and concrete measures needed to end these harmful subsidies.
Read the European Commission’s response.
Read our full reaction.
Empty words, no real action
The Commission highlights that only 43% of fossil fuel subsidies in the EU are set to end by 2025. However, even this limited commitment remains unfulfilled. The latest report from the European Environment Agency warns that most Member States still lack concrete plans to phase out these subsidies—putting the EU at risk of missing its climate targets.
What needs to happen now
We urge Commissioners Wopke Hoekstra and Dan Jørgensen to go beyond rhetoric and take real action. That means:
- A binding timeline for a full phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies
- Methodological guidance to ensure clarity on what counts as a subsidy
- Transparency & accountability so the public can track progress
Fossil fuel subsidies should be history, not policy. The EU must stop delaying and start leading.
