The Green Tank, together with other environmental NGOs, was invited by the European Commission to provide input for the upcoming EU Semester report and recommendations for Greece. Our submission highlighted key gaps in the country’s energy policy and proposed concrete actions to ensure a fair, sustainable, and citizen-focused energy transition. We focused on four main areas, which we discussed during the consultation and subsequently submitted in written form:
Improving the functioning of the retail electricity market for consumers
In the retail electricity market, we noted that competition remains limited and many consumers are effectively locked in more expensive tariffs due to a lack of transparency and understanding. We recommended stronger consumer information, standardized and transparent tariffs, faster rollout of smart meters, and active promotion of dynamic pricing.
Maximizing the benefits of reducing fossil gas use
We also emphasized that the recent increase in electricity exports is primarily driven by higher gas-fired generation rather than renewables, resulting in higher emissions, increased wholesale prices, and growing renewable energy curtailments. Greece should prioritize storage and demand-side solutions, limit the development of new gas-fired power plants and their financial support through Capacity Remuneration Mechanisms, and remove barriers to storage infrastructure deployment.
Strengthening prosumerism and energy communities
Citizen participation through energy communities and self-generation is slowing dangerously due to regulatory and structural barriers, limited financial support, and constrained grid capacity. Immediate support is needed through funding, expanded grid access, the formalization of energy sharing, and benefit-sharing mechanisms from large-scale renewable energy projects for local communities.
Measures to tackle high levels of energy poverty
Finally, addressing energy poverty requires alignment of measures with the National Social Climate Plan, fair support for all vulnerable households, and linking relief to fossil fuel dependence. Strong regulation, social justice, and genuine citizen empowerment are essential to achieving Greece’s climate and energy goals.
Read the full submission by The Green Tank to the European Commission here.
