Tasks of the Group
Article 2
1. The Group’s tasks shall be: (a) to serve as the main platform for the exchange of information and coordination between the Commission and Member States on questions relating to the design and implementation of Union legislation, programmes and policies addressing financially weak households or those affected by energy poverty and vulnerable consumers, including in the context of affordability of energy, targeted renovation and energy efficiency measures and financing schemes at national level; (b) to provide a forum for exchanging experiences, best practices and expertise in addressing vulnerable consumers and financially weak households or those affected by energy poverty, including at regional and local levels (c) to assist the Commission and the Member States in designing policy initiatives, in particular in relation to their National Energy and Climate Plans, Integrated National Energy and Climate Progress Reports and related strategies. 2. The Group shall, in particular: (a) exchange information on decisions regarding measures to support and empower vulnerable consumers and financially weak households or those affected by energy poverty and address energy affordability in their national context and in the broader frame of the clean energy transition, at any level of government (national, regional and local); (b) discuss specific issues on vulnerable consumers and financially weak households or those affected by energy poverty with a view to come to identify appropriate actions and coordinated solutions in line with the Union law; (c) review the regular outlooks and reports prepared by the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub and the Commission, in particular addressing, measuring and monitoring progress on root causes and solutions, including relevant socioeconomic analysis; (d) improve the quality and range of available data and statistical indicators, including harmonised Union data collection, paying due regard to national specificities, to ensure that approaches to supporting and empowering energy poor and vulnerable consumers are based on an informed and up-to-date understanding of the key issues at play and relevant dimensions, as well their spatial and temporal variations, in close cooperation with the Social Protection Committee (and its Indicators Sub-group) and ESTAT. (e) promote the exchange of information, prevention and coordinated action in case of an emergency within the Union.