GIE and Grant Thornton Advisory publish the 4th edition of the report: Decarbonisation in Central & South-Eastern Europe

May 30, 2025

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) and Grant Thornton Advisory are proud to announce the release of the 2025 Decarbonisation Report for Central and South-Eastern Europe, now in its fourth edition.

This comprehensive publication provides a timely and in-depth analysis of the region’s progress and challenges in the energy transition, with a special focus on the post-crisis transformation of the gas sector.

Covering 14 EU countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia), the report assesses national efforts to reduce fossil fuel reliance, integrate renewable energy, and prepare gas infrastructure for the future.

By downloading the publication here, you are getting:

• A comparative analysis of the national energy markets in the region
• The key energy market figures of each of the 14 member states
• The main decarbonisation challenges and strategies of the member states

Key Insights:

• Gas flows have significantly shifted in the wake of the energy crisis and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with countries moving away from Russian supply and investing in LNG and interconnection infrastructure.
• Natural gas remains a critical bridging fuel, particularly in replacing coal in power and district heating.
• The region faces ongoing challenges with energy intensity, but is making progress in deploying green gases like biomethane and hydrogen.
• A dedicated section of the report maps the development of the hydrogen value chain, including legislative frameworks, infrastructure projects, and regional hydrogen corridor initiatives.
• The report details the structural transformation of the energy sector, including efforts to make infrastructure hydrogen-ready and accelerate renewable integration.
• A special focus is also placed on the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal and the competitive pressures facing energy-intensive industries.
• Sector-Specific Analysis: The report offers detailed insights into energy use and emissions by sector—power generation, industry, transport, households, and services.
• Country-Specific Insights: Individual fact sheets for all 14 countries provide up-to-date energy market data, emissions figures, and national strategies.

Lucie Boost, Secretary General of GIE, commented: “The 2025 GIE Decarbonisation Report highlights how Central and South-Eastern Europe can transform today’s energy security and geopolitical challenges into a strategic opportunity. By leveraging existing gas infrastructure and accelerating the deployment of renewables, the region can diversify supply corridors, enhance resilience, and build a future-ready energy system aligned with EU climate goals.”

Milan Sedláček, GIE Board Member, GTE President, commented: “The document provides valuable insight into the situation in the region. It confirms the critical role of energy in the regional economy, which significantly exceeds the EU average due to the high energy intensity of the countries’ GDP. The current shift in gas flows and supply patterns presents an additional challenge, compounding the already complex issue of phasing out coal and gas. The region has ambitious plans to repurpose its extensive gas transmission infrastructure for the transport of green hydrogen, which could become a key driver in unlocking further decarbonisation.”

Note to editors

Who is GIE?

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) is the association representing the interests of European gas infrastructure operators active in gas transmission, gas storage and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) regasification. GIE is a trusted partner of European institutions, regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders. It is based in Brussels, the heart of European policymaking. GIE currently represents 72 member companies from 25 countries. GIE’s vision is that by 2050, the gas infrastructure will be the backbone of the new innovative energy system, allowing European citizens to benefit from a secure, efficient and sustainable energy supply.

Press contact for GIE: Mahtab Jalali Moghaddam, mahtab.jalali@gie.eu

Who is Grant Thornton

In the past two decades, Grant Thornton has established a strong position on the Czech market in the field of tax, transactions and management consulting, audit, valuation, accounting and payroll management. The annual turnover of the Grant Thornton holding in the Czech Republic currently amounts to 38 million USD, with over 490 experts working in offices in Prague, Brno and Ostrava delivering for over 1800 clients.

Press contact for Grant Thornton: Petr Paseka, petr.paseka@cz.gt.com