A cover note published by the Council on 3 August 2026 sets out an amended Implementing Decision that updates Belgium's recovery and resilience plan, adding new milestones and targets for building renovations and emerging energy technologies. The annex details reforms and investments under Component 1.1 (Renovation) and Component 1.2 (Emerging Energy Technologies), with most actions required by 2026, affecting homeowners, construction firms, and energy investors across Belgium's regions.
The document, which accompanies a proposal for a Council Implementing Decision, revises the assessment approved on 13 July 2021. It introduces specific deadlines and quantitative targets: energy subsidy scheme reforms in Flanders, Brussels-Capital, and the German-speaking Community must enter into force by Q1 2022; renovation targets include 64,112 dwellings by Q2 2023, 201,625 by Q2 2025, and 201,825 by Q2 2026; public building renovation targets include 10,800 m² by Q2 2024 and 233,555 m² by Q2 2026. For hydrogen, regulatory frameworks for the H2 market and CO2 transport/markets must be in force by Q1 2024, with federal contract awards of at least EUR 27 million by Q2 2022 and four specific projects completed by Q4 2025.
for hydrogen IPCEI projects in Flanders, all activities under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) with projected CO2 emissions not substantially lower than relevant benchmarks are excluded from the plan's support. This reflects a trade-off between promoting green hydrogen and maintaining ETS integrity, potentially limiting support for projects with higher emissions.
The updated plan balances energy-efficiency gains and decarbonisation with administrative and financial burdens on national and regional authorities, which must implement reforms and meet tight deadlines. For businesses, especially in construction and hydrogen, the targets create market opportunities but also compliance costs and uncertainty over project eligibility. Consumers may benefit from lower energy bills and improved housing, while taxpayers bear the ultimate cost of the investments. The Council's approval is expected to be followed by formal adoption, after which Belgium can request disbursements tied to the new milestones.