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ZOE Institute for Future-Fit Economies gUG

ZOE

ZOE Institute for Future-Fit Economies is an independent think tank specializing in sustainable economic policy.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Marco La Marca (Cabinet of Commissioner Dubravka Šuica)

11 Nov 2025 · Exchange of views on future-proof policies

Response to Electrification Action Plan

9 Oct 2025

Submission to the Call for Evidence on the Electrification Action Plan on behalf of ZOE Institute for Future-Fit Economies Industrial electrification is essential to achieving the EUs climate and decarbonisation objectives and to securing long-term industrial competitiveness. Yet current investment flows remain misaligned with this goal. Fossil-based activities continue to attract substantial funding, while electrification technologies face underinvestment particularly in regions with weaker investment conditions. Mobilising and redirecting private finance for industrial electrification at scale is therefore critical. We have developed a practical, evidence-based framework to identify and address the barriers shaping investment decisions. Using a quantitative clustering methodology, it categorises EU regions into five distinct profiles according to their financial, technical, and institutional conditions for industrial electrification. These profiles illustrate a spectrum of readiness: from regions poised to scale deployment to those requiring more substantial and differentiated public support. Recognising these differences is essential for designing targeted and effective policy mixes that reflect regional realities. To compliment the regional profiles approach, ZOE Institutes Private Finance Toolbox offers a systemic framework linking investment barriers to policy solutions. It is informed by academic research and stakeholder interviews and captures the range of barriers investors face spanning financial profitability concerns, real-world implementation constraints, and deeper-rooted challenges and aligns them with relevant policy options. Matching regional and technology-specific barriers systematically with these Toolbox categories allows policymakers to identify policy solutions, such as: measures to reduce capital and operational expenditure, initiatives addressing workforce challenges, including skills shortages and knowledge gaps, and interventions promoting technological acceptance among decision makers. This evidence-based framework highlights that accelerating industrial electrification is not a one-size-fits-all exercise. Instead, differentiated policy action can maximise the impact of public interventions and overcome persistent barriers to investment. In practice, this means: diagnosing the unique investment barriers and conditions of regions through systematic cluster analysis, applying the Toolbox framework to tailor policy options to these specific conditions, and engaging investors, industry, and civil society in co-creative processes to ensure feasibility, impact, and inclusiveness. By adopting this systemic, region- and technology-specific approach, the Electrification Action Plan can deliver an efficient allocation of resources, unlock private capital, and accelerate the transition toward a sustainable, future-fit industrial landscape across the EU. A full version of the study, including methodological details, a long list of investment barriers and region-specific policy implications, is attached to this submission.
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ZOE Institute calls for result-oriented industrial decarbonisation aid

6 Oct 2025
Topic — The European Commission is revising rules for state aid exemptions.
Message — ZOE Institute proposes a results-based approach for environmental and energy efficiency measures. They suggest performance-based state aid schemes as an alternative to ex-ante cost calculations. These schemes would disburse aid based on progress actually achieved in decarbonisation.123
Why — The proposed approach would reduce administrative burdens and simplify funding access.45
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Meeting with Kira Marie Peter-Hansen (Member of the European Parliament)

1 Oct 2025 · Meeting with Zoe Institute

Response to 2025 Strategic Foresight Report

18 Mar 2025

We welcome the focus on long-term resilience in the 2025 Strategic Foresight Report. As the world faces numerous crises, Europe faces both the challenge and the opportunity to rethink its approach to building resilient economic and societal systems. Resilience and intergenerational fairness are deeply connected as resilience is not just bouncing back and overcoming immediate challenges but also bouncing forward to ensure future generations inherit stronger, more adaptable systems. Designing policies for intergenerational fairness, or intergenerational thinking, ensures that todays policy decisions are grounded in a comprehensive understanding of current and future trends. To fully use intergenerational thinking in promoting a resilient EU, we recommend further embedding strategic foresight in policymaking, utilising sustainable and inclusive wellbeing metrics, strengthening citizen participation processes, and ensuring horizontal coordination. 1. Strategic foresight: Streamline the use of existing and innovative strategic foresight practices of the Commission into the policy cycle to support long-term decision-making. These practices can feed into the annual work plan, budget, and the work of DGs, with support from the JRC. In addition, we invite the Commission to build the muscle, i.e. develop a habit of using foresight and strengthen the necessary skills through practice to be able to use these resources more efficiently, making them less resource-intensive over time. The Commissions Strategic Foresight Network can continue to give guidance and support capacity building across various DGs. The Network could cooperate more with the Better Regulation Network to share insights and identify synergies. The networks could also convene to build capacity among members on how to use strategic foresight to improve regulatory quality. 2. Sustainable and inclusive wellbeing (SIW) metrics: SIW metrics are centred on measuring progress across three dimensions: a. Ensuring future wellbeing (sustainability); encompassing biophysical and social conditions for future wellbeing. b. Limiting wellbeing inequalities for current and future generations (inclusion); gauging the distribution of wellbeing determinants and opportunities across spatial scales and social groups. c. Ensuring current wellbeing (wellbeing); determinants such as health, education, air quality, employment, social relationships, income, housing, security, and environmental health. A holistic set of indicators can enable the EU to assess the long-term sustainability of its strategic decisions by integrating different factors. The analytical results stemming from these metrics can be used to achieve more targeted and impactful strategic policies. 3. Citizen engagement: A resilient society can be built by actively engaging citizens of all ages in policymaking processes. For example, establishing a regular exchange with the Commissions network of youth correspondents or establishing a new coordination mechanism with the European Ombudsperson to receive citizen inputs about EU policies they believe harm the interests of future generations. Establishing standing citizen panels for providing inputs into policies can provide a participatory approach that helps build a resilient, inclusive society with stronger policy decisions. 4. Horizontal collaboration: Both resilience and intergenerational fairness are cross-cutting and require a systemic approach to policy design, implementation and monitoring that can help bridge silos. This starts with better integrating environmental, social, and economic data from different sectors to ensure more comprehensive analysis. This approach supports evidence-informed anticipatory policymaking by helping to uncover trade-offs and synergies across policy areas for policy coherence. By embracing intergenerational thinking and long-term planning, policy- and decision-makers can shape a future-fit Europe that stands as a beacon of progress and
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Meeting with Deša Srsen (Cabinet of Commissioner Glenn Micallef)

13 Jan 2025 · Intergenerational fairness strategy

Meeting with Deša Srsen (Cabinet of Commissioner Glenn Micallef)

10 Dec 2024 · Intergenerational fairness strategy

Response to Application of the ‘do no significant harm’ principle to the Social Climate Fund and its possible future extension

24 May 2024

ZOE Institute for Future-fit Economies welcomes the opportunity to give feedback on the application of the "do no significant harm" (DNSH) principle to the Social Climate Fund and policy reflections for its future extension under the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Our analysis of the DNSH application in the context of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) has revealed that there is room for improvement to make full use of the DNSH principle in a harmonised and simplified way. We welcome the initiative to gather policy reflections to explore how to operationalize DNSH consistently across relevant sectors as well as the provision of consistent Technical Guidance on how the measures and investments are to comply with the principle of do no significant harm under the Social Climate Fund. A more robust and coherent application and implementation of this principle is critical, especially as this method will now also be used for future funding instruments at EU level. Our consultation response builds on insights from our past engagement with the RRF and the national resilience and recovery plans (NRRPs), and in particular on our interviews with Member States and the European Commission on the DNSH application in this context. The findings of this research were gathered in a comprehensive policy brief. We provide insights into the limitations of the practical DNSH application in the context of the RRF and put forward concrete recommendations for future application of the DNSH principle. ZOE Institute formulated 8 critical recommendations for the DNSH application, both on content and procedural aspects, to ensure for a more stringent and robust DNSH assessment in the future: Content Recommendations 1. Remove Allowance of Nuclear and Gas o Reclassify these energy sources under an "amber" category for intermediate environmental performance. o This aligns with the REPowerEU plan's objective to transition to clean, renewable energy and avoids contradictions with the taxonomys goals. 2. Add Lifecycle Assessment o Implement mandatory lifecycle assessments (LCA) with clear thresholds and metrics in the Technical Screening Criteria (TSC). o This ensures comprehensive understanding and mitigation of environmental harm throughout a product's lifecycle. 3. Qualitative Framework for risk identification o Develop a qualitative framework to identify and assess potential environmental risks. o Enhances the robustness of DNSH by ensuring thorough evaluation of all activities, even those not directly linked to the taxonomy. 4. Mechanisms for Non-Compliance o Establish clear documentation and criteria for excluded measures and define enforcement mechanisms for breaches. o Promotes accountability and consistency in the application of DNSH principles. Procedural Recommendations 1. A DNSH Digital Hub o Purpose: Provide a dynamic, continuously updated platform with all relevant DNSH information, technical guidance, and application examples. o Format: A user-friendly, searchable hub focusing specifically on DNSH requirements. 2. A DNSH Expert Network o Purpose: Offer access to experts for specific queries on lifecycle, trade-offs, and risks, along with training and capacity-building. o Format: A vetted resource bank convened by the Commission, available for policymakers. 3. A DNSH Stakeholder Learning Platform o Purpose: Facilitate exchange and learning among Member States to ensure consistent and coherent DNSH application. o Format: Could include regular conferences, bilateral or multilateral meetings, and an online forum for sharing experiences and seeking advice. 4. Robust and Transparent Monitoring System o Purpose: Ensure DNSH compliance and adequate action, with public accessibility and stakeholder involvement. o Format: Monitoring committees or similar bodies at Member State level, possibly including CSOs and key stakeholders in an advisory capacity.
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Meeting with Ruth Reichstein (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen)

20 Feb 2024 · European Green Deal

Meeting with Francisco Barros Castro (Cabinet of Commissioner Elisa Ferreira)

7 Feb 2024 · Presentation of the outcome of Zoe's Policy Labs exercise

Meeting with Francisco Barros Castro (Cabinet of Commissioner Elisa Ferreira)

3 Jul 2023 · Presentation of ZOE and its work on effective governance

Meeting with Giedrius Alasevicius (Cabinet of Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius)

3 Jul 2023 · An academic discussion on the legislative process in the EU - what sets apart legislation that is easier to pass, what are possible improvements to the process.

Meeting with Florika Fink-Hooijer (Director-General Environment)

16 May 2023 · High Level Dinner and informal exchange of opinions around "Beyond Growth" topic.

Meeting with Sophie Dewispelaere (Cabinet of Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni)

8 May 2023 · policy lab program

Meeting with Dimitri Lorenzani (Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič)

3 May 2023 · Follow-up on beyond GDP

Meeting with Dimitri Lorenzani (Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič)

24 Mar 2023 · Discussion on Strategic Foresight

Response to Proposal for a Regulation on establishing a Climate Action Social Facility

18 Nov 2021

ZOE Institute for Future-fit Economies welcomes the opportunity for feedback on the creation of a Social Climate Fund (SCF) aimed at addressing the social inequalities arising from the revision and enlargement of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to housing and transport. We strongly support initiatives which aim to change behaviour and curb unsustainable lifestyles in an equitable way, especially in the hotspot sectors of mobility and housing – two high-emission areas with the largest impact potential for reducing lifestyle-related emissions1. To ensure that the creation of the SCF helps enable a broader shift toward carbon-neutral ways of living, there is a need to focus on the vision of equitable ‘1.5-Degree Lifestyles’ and the role and nature of emissions reductions in mobility and housing in crafting such lifestyles. In our feedback on creating a Social Climate Fund we focus on: - The implementation and financial aspects of the SCF (1), (2), (3) and - The equity and lifestyles dimensions of the SCF (4) and (5).
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Response to Revision of the Energy Tax Directive

18 Nov 2021

ZOE Institute for Future-fit Economies welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed revision of the Directive restructuring the Community framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity from 27 October 2003 (2003/96/EC). As part of the Fit for 55 package, this revision is a key opportunity to spark a fair and green tax reform across the EU. We strongly support initiatives which aim to change behaviour and curb unsustainable lifestyles in an equitable way in the context of energy consumption. However, the proposed revision of the directive presents risks for low-income European households and for the acceptability of European climate action. An acceptance that is already threatened by rising energy prices. These risks should be mitigated through stronger protection for low-income Europeans and greater attention to enabling affordable and accessible energy consumption, accompanied through an enabling carbon-neutral way of living. To ensure that the revision of the Energy Taxation Directive helps contribute to a broad and lasting shift towards these sustainable lifestyles an open dialogue on the vision of equitable ‘1.5°C-Lifestyles’ and the role and nature of emissions reductions in crafting such lifestyles – in the context of energy consumption - is needed. In our feedback on the proposal for a revision of the Energy Taxation Directive we focus on: - The new directive should be aligned with the EU objectives to reduce emissions by 55 percent until 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 (1); - The directive’s scope should be enlarged so that energy products based on fossil fuels are included and taxed more and external costs are internalised, in particular in aviation and shipping (2), the use of sustainable transport modes is incentivized (3); the heating sector is accounted for, where the potential of GHG reduction is enormous (4); - A fair distribution of tax revenues among households and between businesses and households needs to be ensured (5); - To ensure that the envisaged internalisation of external costs leads to the envisaged reduction, demand side policies and a better understanding of 1.5-Degree Lifestyles needs to be included (6).
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Meeting with Mattia De' Grassi (Cabinet of Vice-President Dubravka Šuica) and France Industrie and

15 Sept 2021 · Exchange on the Conference & Reflection on the Future of Europe

Response to Draft Delegated Act defining a methodology for reporting social expenditure

25 Aug 2021

ZOE Institute for Future-fit Economies welcomes the opportunity to give feedback on the delegated regulation establishing the methodology for reporting social spending within the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). To monitor and evaluate the implementation of national plans, which clarify the budget allocation of RRF grants and loans, the European Commission, by way of delegated act, drafted two mechanisms: the methodology for reporting social spending and the recovery and resilience scoreboard. While we appreciate the Commission’s proposal to define a methodology for reporting on social expenditure, especially considering the pace and scale of work necessary in establishing the RRF, we propose to formally integrate these for two main reasons: Firstly, due to partial overlaps having two separate monitors may increase the administrative burden for the reporting institutions. Secondly, we find that dedicating one mechanism to the inclusion of social concerns reduces the representation of social indicators in the scoreboard. Therefore, we would like to take the opportunity to submit the same analysis in our response as we developed for the open consultation regarding the resilience and recovery scoreboard. We wish to underline our recommendation to merge the two mechanisms, which is elaborated in the attached PDF.
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Response to Setting out common indicators and detailed elements of the recovery and resilience scoreboard

25 Aug 2021

ZOE Institute for Future-fit Economies welcomes the opportunity to give feedback on the delegated regulation establishing the common indicators of the resilience and recovery scoreboard to monitor the Resilience and Recovery Facility’s (RRF) implementation progress. We appreciate the Commission’s proposal to establish a common scoreboard for assessing the progress of national recovery plans against shared objectives, especially considering the pace and scale of work necessary in establishing the RRF. Our consultation response builds on insights from our past engagement with the RRF and the national resilience and recovery plans (NRRPs) as well as our ongoing work on monitoring the European Green Deal and inputs into the development of the Resilience Dashboard. The recovery and resilience scoreboard is a critical tool for understanding the EU's pathway to recovery from the pandemic. It should be designed to monitor the progress of NRRPs towards delivery on the twin green and digital transitions, collective efforts on the six pillars of the RRF, and ensure that the recovery process builds economic resilience. At present, there is room for improvement in the current framework to deliver on these essential aspects. The scoreboard needs significant adjustments to align with the purpose and ambition outlined in the RRF regulation. We recommend that the scoreboard must include the social and environmental aspects of the six pillars of the RRF into the set of indicators proposed in order to measure resilience. This consultation response includes proposals for how both can be integrated into how the current proposed indicators are measured with minor adjustments, as well as two additional indicators to ensure all pillars are measured. The scoreboard currently focusses on measuring direct policy results, which risks that environmental, social and economic impacts of the recovery are not captured in any monitoring process. This framework should therefore include a select few impact indicators to ensure delivery on the six pillars and a resilient economy. Specifically, we encourage that this means formal integration of the social methodology, and monitoring of indicators which measure compliance with the mandatory DNSH into the scoreboard. The relationship between this scoreboard and the European Semester process remains vague and needs to be clarified. We think it is crucial that this complements rather than replaces the ongoing integration of the SDGs into the Semester process and align and consolidate these indicators with that process. For a more effective and streamlined reporting on indicators in the context of the European Semester, we recommend the Commission to formalise the incorporation of the RRF into the Semester. In our full response, please see the PDF attached, we first elaborate on resilience as a concept in use in the RRF and this scoreboard, and the need to define this ”resilience” in order to monitor and measure progress towards a resilient recovery. We suggest possibilities to strengthen the existing indicators, elaborated with feedback per indicator in Table 1 at the end of this document, and propose two additional social and environmental indicators necessary to monitor recovery and resilience, as well as to improve coherence of EU policy on the recovery.
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Meeting with Rozalina Petrova (Cabinet of Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius)

21 Jun 2021 · Development of the European Green Deal monitoring system

Meeting with Helena Braun (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

21 Jun 2021 · Development of the European Green Deal monitoring system

Response to New EU urban mobility framework

25 May 2021

ZOE -Institute for Future-fit Economies welcomes the opportunity for feedback on the roadmap for the New EU Urban Mobility Framework. We strongly support initiatives aimed at changing behaviour and lifestyles in the mobility sector. To turn this into action, Europe needs an open dialogue on 1.5- degree lifestyles and the role that urban mobility plays in CO2 emissions reduction. A lifestyle carbon footprint compatible with the aspirational 1.5-degree target of the Paris Agreement would require a footprint of 0.7 tCO2e per capita by 2050. Industrialised countries would need to reduce their emissions arising from mobility by 72% until 2030 to achieve 1.5-degree lifestyles (Akenji et al., 2019). To achieve these objectives and implement the Green Deal and the targets of the Paris Agreement, we call on the European Union to set out a path towards climate neutrality that enables all citizens to live a good, healthy and meaningful life within planetary boundaries. This implies to further enshrine these 1.5- degree lifestyles in the EU agenda and the European Green Deal. ZOE’s recommendations to the new urban mobility framework are developed in the document attached and listed below: • Prioritising infrastructure for public transport and non-motorised modes of transport • Making efficiency policies effective, by complementing them with sufficiency • Increasing health benefits from the accessibility of green spaces • Using digitalisation and the platform economy to lower the transport volume • A coherent policy framework for an encompassing transition
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Meeting with Jean-Eric Paquet (Director-General Research and Innovation)

17 Sept 2020 · ZOE Policy Lab: Long-term challenges from COVID-19, policy coherence, green recovery - Participation in a discussion panel

Meeting with Mette Dyrskjot (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager)

20 Feb 2020 · Conference on sustainable growth in the European Parliament

Meeting with Estelle Goeger (Cabinet of Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni)

20 Feb 2020 · Meeting to prepare conference on sustainable growth in the European Parliament

Meeting with Jean-Eric Paquet (Director-General Research and Innovation)

2 Dec 2019 · COST Action

Meeting with Helena Braun (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

6 Feb 2019 · Sustainable Development and policy coherence