Borboly Csaba’s speech at the European Committee of the Regions: “Justice begins with energy”

Brussels – 15.10.2025
Borboly Csaba, Vice President of Harghita County Council and member of the European Committee of the Regions, took the floor as a member of the Covenant of Mayors, emphasizing that “Climate justice begins with energy justice.”

The politician highlighted that many households across Europe – especially in rural and mountainous areas – live in homes they cannot afford to heat properly.

“This is not just energy poverty. It is a daily experience of exclusion – and a test of Europe’s credibility,” Borboly said.

In his speech, he recalled that in his CoR report entitled “Towards a socially fair implementation of the Green Deal,” he had already stressed that fairness means not only financial support but also real local empowerment.

“We need not only subsidies, but also tools that allow our communities to shape their own energy future,” he added.

Borboly outlined three concrete directions:

·        creating energy cooperatives,

·        installing renewable energy sources in schools, clinics, and public buildings,

·        empowering local authorities to become not only energy consumers but also energy producers.

He also put forward a specific proposal:

“What if every Covenant member city set a target by 2030 to lift families out of energy poverty through at least one flagship project?”

According to Borboly Csaba, this is not only a climate issue but also a matter of trust, dignity, and equal opportunity for all Europeans.