Dutch fossil-fuel exit plan shows EU struggle to set binding deadlines

22 Sep 2026, 15:37 by https://euobserver.com/author/zuzanna-stawiska/ · EUobserver

Flaring is the burning of gas and occurs when drilling for oil (Photo: Flickr, Ken Doerr)

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By Zuzanna Stawiska,
Brussels
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The fossil fuel phase-out plan recently announced by the Netherlands has triggered questions and scrutiny from experts and green groups – amid a broader pushback against climate neutrality targets in the EU.

The plan, published by the Dutch government on Tuesday (15 September), has drawn harsh criticism for lacking a binding end date for fossil fuel use and creating what environmental activists see as loopholes that could allow more gas projects until 2050.

“A roadmap without deadlines is nothing more than a footpath paved with good intentions,” said Yvo de Boer, former official of the UN’s climate body, in a press release.

“This roadmap falls short by omitting binding fossil fuel end dates and allowing continued gas extraction,” he added.

The Netherlands plans to halve its gas and oil consumption by 2040 and stresses the importance of diversifying energy sources to avoid being dependent on lithium or copper imports.

It also prohibits coal for electricity generation after 2030, with exceptions for heavy-polluting steel production and new gas extraction projects.

The Hague joins Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, and Luxembourg in committing to phase out fossil fuels at least by 2035, according to the Europe-wide tracker of NGO Beyond Fossil Fuels.