Climate spending in the 2014-2020 EU budget : not as high as reported; Special report 09, 2022

The EU committed to spending at least 20 % of its 2014-2020 budget on climate action. The Commission announced that the EU met the target, with €216 billion reported in climate spending for this period. We found that the reported spending was not always relevant to climate action and climate reporting was overstated overall. We estimated that it was overstated by at least €72 billion. Despite the planned improvements in 2021-2027 climate action reporting, challenges remain. Our recommendations aim to enhance climate reporting and to link the EU's budgetary contribution to its climate and energy objectives. We also recommend obtaining scientific evidence to support the climate contribution made by the EU's agricultural policy. ECA special report pursuant to Article 287(4), second subparagraph, TFEU.