The Committee of the Regions (CoR) has backed the Energy Roadmap 2050, European Commission's plans to reduce energy consumption and commit to shifting towards more sustainable energy resources. However, it urged that far more needs to be done to support local and regional authorities if these objectives are to be achieved.

The Committee of the Regions (CoR) debated on the Energy Roadmap 2050 published in December 2011 by the European Commission and that seeks to achieve the EU's target of reducing greenhouse emissions to 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050 while protecting energy supply and maintaining competitiveness.

During the debate, the CoR stressed that support is needed to local and regional authorities if these objectives want to be achieved. The CoR has called for these responsibilities to be reflected in the provision of proper funding. The opinion calls for the simplification and improved access to funding from the European Investment Bank with priority given to projects on energy efficiency and renewable energy. It goes further suggesting the adoption of additional measures such as banning national subsidies for fossil fuels and instead money should be invested directly into renewable energy.

The CoR opinion also takes into account growing public concern and costs associated with nuclear production and dismantlement. Subsidies should instead be used for alternative renewable forms of energy to achieve the shift towards a sustainable energy supply. The CoR also raised concerns about the lack of reference to the energy efficiency of buildings in the Roadmap. Though buildings use about 40% of all primary energy in the EU, insufficient investment was being directed into reducing building energy emissions, an area of responsibility for local and regional authorities.