Since 1 January 2022 France has taken over the Presidency of the Council of the EU. During this time France will coordinate the Council's work on EU legislation until 30 June 2022 when the Czech Republic will take over. France has published its Presidency Council Programme for the coming months with an important role for the ongoing Fit for 55 negotiations.

The French Presidency comes at a crucial moment with the inter-institutional dialogues that have started between the Council and Parliament on the first package of Fit for 55, which includes the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Directives (EED & RED III).

In addition, the dialogue on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), for which the Commission released its proposal in December 2021, will commence under the French Presidency as well. In early March 2022 a ministerial conference will be organised in Nice that will focus on energy efficiency in buildings and energy poverty. 

Some hope that the French Presidency can push the EU's ambitions to bolster the energy efficiency policies to make them fit for the Green Deal ambitions in the coming decades.

Read the full French Presidency Programme with priorities here (the Energy Chapter is on page 55).