PRESS RELEASE: EU governments fall short on Long-Term Climate Strategies, new report finds

A new report released today by civil society organisations reveals that many EU Member States are neglecting or delaying critical long-term climate planning, undermining efforts to achieve climate neutrality and align with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target.

The briefing – “How does the Long-Term Strategy process work? Evidence from selected national studies” – analyses the state of play across ten EU countries (Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, France, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain) and finds a widespread lack of ambition, weak public participation, and poor alignment with other national climate plans.

“We are seeing a dangerous gap in national policy-making ,” said Federico Mascolo, Policy Coordinator at CAN Europe. “Long-Term Strategies are not just paperwork – they are critical tools to drive deep emissions reductions and manage the transition fairly. By neglecting them, many countries are missing the mark.”

The Governance Regulation requires all Member States to submit and periodically revise their Long-Term Strategies (LTS) as part of the EU’s climate governance framework. However, only two countries have adopted updated LTS documents so far, with others lagging behind or treating the process as a box-ticking exercise.

Key findings include:

• Five countries have no plans to revise their existing LTS.
• Public consultation is often minimal or absent, undermining democratic legitimacy.
• Weak coordination between LTS and National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), leading to incoherent climate policy pathways.
• Only a handful of countries link their LTS to binding national climate laws or mid-term milestones. 

The report highlights good practices from countries like Portugal and Spain, which demonstrated more inclusive processes and transparent planning. However, even in these cases, implementation remains uncertain.

NGOs call on the European Commission and Member States to:

• Ensure binding mid-term targets (for 2030 and 2040) are included in national climate laws;
• Strengthen public participation in LTS updates;
• Integrate LTS with NECPs to create coherent, credible climate pathways;
• Adopt a common EU-level framework to assess and monitor progress. 

“The EU must now agree on a 2040 target, which in CAN Europe’s view should be achieved domestically and preferably bring the continent to climate neutrality.  This will give critical orientation to Member States to define their long-term strategies, and they can no longer afford to ignore the long-term,” added Mascolo. “If we’re serious about a just and science-based climate transition for a prosperous EU, this process must be overhauled.”

Download the full report here: https://1point5.caneurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/InE_Raport_v4.pdf