What is EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW)?

EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) is the European Commission's annual flagship energy event, organised by DG ENER (Directorate-General for Energy). It brings together approximately 5,000–7,000 participants including EU Commissioners, MEPs, member state energy ministers, industry associations, NGOs, and civil society. The week features policy sessions on EU energy legislation, the Energy Awards (recognising outstanding energy innovation), and side events organised by member states, cities, and companies. EUSEW has been held annually since 2006 and serves as the primary forum for the European Commission to communicate energy policy priorities to stakeholders.

What is ETS2 and how does it affect fuel prices?

ETS2 is the EU Emissions Trading System for buildings and road transport, formally established under the 2023 EU ETS reform. It extends carbon pricing to the combustion of fuels in road transport (petrol, diesel, heating oil, natural gas for heating) beyond the existing ETS1 which covers heavy industry and power. ETS2 is due to start in 2027, with allowance auctions beginning in 2026. Analysts estimate ETS2 could add approximately €0.08–0.15/l to petrol and diesel pump prices initially (assuming ETS2 carbon price of €40–55/tonne CO2 at start), rising over time. A Social Climate Fund of €86.7bn (2026–2032) is established to compensate vulnerable households for the additional energy cost burden.

What are the EU's 2030 renewable energy targets?

Under the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III, 2023), the EU has set a binding target of 42.5% renewable energy share of gross final energy consumption by 2030, with an aspirational goal of 45%. Sub-targets include: (1) Transport: 29% renewable energy or 14.5% GHG intensity reduction in transport by 2030 (with sub-targets for advanced biofuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin, RFNBO, including green hydrogen); (2) Heating and cooling: 49% renewable share; (3) Industry: 42% renewable hydrogen share in industry's H2 use by 2030. The RED III framework also governs the Renewable Fuel standard for aviation (SAF) and shipping, connecting maritime decarbonisation to the EU renewable target.

EU Sustainable Energy Week 2026

Name: EU Sustainable Energy Week 2026
Start: 2026-06-09T09:00:00
End: 2026-06-13T18:00:00
Location: Square Brussels Convention Centre

Published 1 March 2026 · Updated 20 October 2026

Dates9–13 June 2026

LocationSquare Brussels Convention Centre, Brussels, Belgium

OrganiserEuropean Commission, DG ENER

FrequencyAnnual

AudienceEU policymakers, industry, NGOs, civil society (~5,000–7,000 participants)

EU Sustainable Energy Week 2026 takes place as Europe approaches the critical 2030 climate and energy deadline. The 2023 "Fit for 55" package, REPowerEU plan, and Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) have set ambitious targets; EUSEW 2026 will be a key checkpoint on implementation progress. A central item is ETS2 — the new carbon pricing system for road transport and buildings fuels — which starts allowance auctions in 2026 ahead of its 2027 compliance start, with direct implications for European petrol and diesel pump prices.

For European fuel price comparisons, see our Europe fuel prices 2026 overview. For excise duty context, see our excise duty glossary entry. For carbon credit markets, see our carbon credit glossary entry.

EUSEW 2026 key policy agenda items

ETS2 readiness: 2026 is the first year of ETS2 allowance auctions — monitoring of carbon price formation and social impact fund deployment
RED III implementation: Member state transposition of revised renewable targets; renewable hydrogen (RFNBO) certification and uptake
Energy efficiency directive: 11.7% reduction in primary energy use by 2030; building renovation wave progress
Electricity market reform: Following the 2022–2023 crisis, new rules on long-term power contracts, cross-border capacity, and wholesale price formation
Grid infrastructure: €584bn of transmission and distribution grid investment needed by 2030 to integrate renewable generation

ETS2 and European fuel price impacts

ETS2 is arguably the most significant near-term policy development for European petrol and diesel prices:

ETS2 scenario	Carbon price (€/t CO2)	Petrol price impact (€/l)	Diesel price impact (€/l)
Conservative (2027 start)	€40–55	+€0.09–0.13	+€0.10–0.15
Central (2030)	€55–80	+€0.13–0.19	+€0.15–0.21
High (2035)	€80–120	+€0.19–0.28	+€0.21–0.32

A Social Climate Fund (€86.7bn, 2026–2032) redistributes ETS2 revenues to cushion lower-income households from higher fuel and heating costs. However, distributional concerns — given that rural and lower-income households are more exposed to petrol costs — remain the primary political challenge for ETS2 implementation. See our analysis of Germany fuel prices 2026 and France fuel prices 2026 for the countries most directly affected by ETS2 given their large vehicle fleets.

REPowerEU: energy independence progress 2026

The REPowerEU plan (May 2022) aimed to rapidly reduce EU dependence on Russian fossil fuels. By 2026, progress includes:

Russian pipeline gas share in EU imports: fell from ~40% (2021) to ~8–10% (2026) — replaced by LNG (USA, Qatar, Norway, Algeria)
New LNG terminal capacity: ~100 bcm/year of regasification capacity added or contracted 2022–2025 across Germany, Netherlands, Italy, and Greece
Renewable build rate: EU solar additions ~90 GW in 2025; wind additions ~25 GW — both at record levels
Heat pump sales: ~3.5 million/year EU-wide in 2025–2026, accelerating displacement of gas heating

For the Russia sanctions context affecting fuel supply chains, see our Russia oil sanctions 2026. For shipping decarbonisation linked to EU ETS, see our shipping decarbonisation 2026.

EU Energy Poverty and fuel affordability
EUSEW 2026 will address energy poverty — estimated to affect ~40–50 million EU citizens who cannot adequately heat their homes or afford fuel. The combination of post-2022 energy price shocks and ETS2 implementation creates pressure on affordability policies. Member states have deployed over €800bn in household energy support measures since 2021 (EU Fiscal Monitor). Transitioning these ad-hoc subsidies to targeted, sustainable energy poverty programmes is a key policy challenge. Countries like Belgium (complex household energy tariff regulation) and France (fuel chèque énergie system) offer contrasting models. See our Belgium fuel prices analysis for regional context.

Frequently asked questions

What is EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW)? EUSEW is the European Commission's annual flagship energy event (~5,000–7,000 participants), held in Brussels each June. Organised by DG ENER, it features policy sessions, the EU Energy Awards, and is the primary forum for the Commission to communicate energy policy priorities to industry, NGOs, and member states.: EUSEW is the European Commission's annual flagship energy event (~5,000–7,000 participants), held in Brussels each June. Organised by DG ENER, it features policy sessions, the EU Energy Awards, and is the primary forum for the Commission to communicate energy policy priorities to industry, NGOs, and member states.
What is ETS2 and how does it affect fuel prices? ETS2 extends EU carbon pricing to road transport and buildings fuels from 2027 (allowance auctions from 2026). It will add approximately €0.09–0.19/l to European petrol prices depending on the carbon price (€40–80/tonne CO2). A Social Climate Fund (€86.7bn, 2026–2032) redistributes revenues to cushion lower-income households.: ETS2 extends EU carbon pricing to road transport and buildings fuels from 2027 (allowance auctions from 2026). It will add approximately €0.09–0.19/l to European petrol prices depending on the carbon price (€40–80/tonne CO2). A Social Climate Fund (€86.7bn, 2026–2032) redistributes revenues to cushion lower-income households.
What are the EU's 2030 renewable energy targets? RED III (2023) sets a binding 42.5% renewable energy share by 2030 (aspirational 45%). Transport sub-target: 29% renewable energy or 14.5% GHG intensity reduction. Advanced biofuels and RFNBO (including green hydrogen) have specific sub-targets. EU solar additions hit ~90 GW in 2025; wind ~25 GW — both records.: RED III (2023) sets a binding 42.5% renewable energy share by 2030 (aspirational 45%). Transport sub-target: 29% renewable energy or 14.5% GHG intensity reduction. Advanced biofuels and RFNBO (including green hydrogen) have specific sub-targets. EU solar additions hit ~90 GW in 2025; wind ~25 GW — both records.