Energy Poverty in EU’s Eastern Neighborhood: Presentation of the Report

Overview

Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine face shared challenges related to household energy, including ageing and energy-inefficient housing, inefficient heating systems, reliance on fuelwood and other solid fuels, particularly in rural areas, and relatively low household incomes. At the same time, all four countries are undergoing energy-sector reforms, albeit at different paces and under different circumstances, shaped by their respective relationships with the European Union and, in Ukraine’s case, the ongoing war.

The report “Energy Poverty in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood” examines how energy poverty manifests itself across these four countries and highlights the extent to which it remains hidden in conventional expenditure data. Rather than spending a high share of their income on energy or falling behind on bills, many households cope by reducing energy consumption, heating only part of their homes, shortening heating periods or switching to cheaper fuels.

The report’s recommendations emphasise the need to complement short-term affordability measures with long-term solutions that address structural vulnerabilities, including residential renovation, improved access to efficient and cleaner heating, and better household-level data to inform policy development.

The event will present the report’s key findings and recommendations, followed by comments and an exchange with policymakers, energy experts and other relevant stakeholders. The discussion will explore policy approaches to addressing energy poverty in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood, with a focus on strengthening household resilience, improving energy affordability and informing ongoing energy-sector reforms.

Date: Friday, 27 November 2026

Time: 10:30-13:00

Venue: Armenia (venue to be confirmed) | Hybrid event (in person and online)

Programme

10:30 – 11:00 | Registration and welcome coffee

11:00 – 11:10 | Welcome and introductory remarks

Representative of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

11:10 – 11:35 | Presentation of the report

Tutana Kvaratskhelia, Senior Energy and Climate Policy Consultant
Gayane Kolyan, Senior Energy Expert, CEO at Kinetic

Sergiu Tofilat, Financial and Energy Policy Analyst

Bohdan Serebrennikov, Deputy Research Director, DiXi Group

11:35 – 12:00 | Comments from the audience

12:00 – 13:00 | Questions and answers

Moderator: Mariam Matiashvili, Policy Advisor, FES Competence Centre for Climate and Social Justice