Dear President Tusk,
We are writing to you on behalf of the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) and the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Building (EuroACE) whose members have operations across the 28 Member States of the European Union, directly employ 465,000 people in Europe.
On the 23rd of February, the European Council will hold an informal discussion to set priorities on the post-2020 Multi Annual Financial Framework (MFF).
The post-2020 MFF will define the financial means to address societal, economic and environmental issues of European and global concern. As this is the first budget following the Paris Agreement, it is a unique opportunity for the European Union to show vision and coherence with its long-term policy objectives, deliver tangible benefits to European citizens and to show that it is serious about living up to its commitments.
In the light of the above, the post-2020 MFF will need to be developed in compliance with current EU and global energy and climate targets. The EU High-Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance estimated that to achieve the EU’s targets for energy and climate policy alone, additional annual investments of €170bn are required.1
This upfront investment, needed to fill the significant investment gap, will foster sustainable growth and create jobs across all EU countries and regions. Investments in energy efficiency typically create value through delivering multiple benefits (energy security, public health, improved air quality) and support innovation and competitiveness.
The MFF holds the key to help plug this investment gap. As the lion share of the required investment will have to come from the private sector, the EU budget should be designed to mobilise private financial flows – hopefully with a multiplier effect of 1:15.2
This will allow the EU to support investments on climate-related projects on a large scale, in line with the Art.2 of the Paris Agreement, which explicitly refers to a “finance flow consistent with a pathway towards low GHG emission and climate-resilient development”.
At the same time, an EU budget drawn up to provide the necessary resources to decarbonize the European economy will help foster EU technological leadership and strengthen the domestic market for clean energy technologies and solutions.
We wish you a fruitful meeting and would be grateful if you could share our views with the Heads of State and Heads of Government.
There are great challenges and significant expectations regarding the post-2020 MFF and we look forward to an outcome that will show the world that European Union is fully committed to tackle the climate change and decarbonize the EU economy.
Yours Sincerely,
Monica Frassoni
President
European Alliance to Save Energy
Adrian Joyce
Secretary General
EuroACE
In a fast-changing political and economic environment, 2025 was a year of continued efforts to strengthen security, stability, and competitiveness for European businesses.
Throughout the year, our work demonstrated that energy efficiency is not only essential to achieving climate goals, but also a key driver of innovation, energy independence and sustainable long-term growth across Europe.
Strong engagement with policymakers, combined with the successful organisation of the 4th European Energy Efficiency Day, highlighted the importance of collaboration and dialogue in advancing shared objectives. Partnerships across sectors and institutions remained central to delivering impact and shaping effective energy policies.
Looking ahead to 2026, we will intensify our efforts to secure the regulatory certainty that can accelerate the energy transition, while providing businesses with the investment confidence they need and strengthening Europe’s competitiveness.
Read the full Activity Report here.