The European Commission reprimanded Belgium on Wednesday for failing to produce a national energy and climate plan.
Belgium now has two more months to submit the plan, according to a press release published on Wednesday.
EU Member States were required to submit climate plans by 30 June last year, setting out how they will contribute to achieving the bloc's climate objectives: the EU wants to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030.
In this context, Belgium must reduce emissions in sectors such as transport, buildings and agriculture by 47%.
In November last year, the Commission opened infringement procedures against Belgium and 12 other Member States for failing to explain how they intended to achieve these objectives.
Regional dispute
In Belgium, this was due to an ongoing disagreement between Wallonia, Flanders and the Brussels-Capital Region. The Flemish Government wants to lower the target to 40%, which is not currently being met either.
22 other Member States have submitted their plans to the Commission, but Belgium, Estonia, Croatia, Poland and Slovakia are still in default. The EU's executive arm therefore launched the next stage of the legal procedure on Wednesday by issuing them with a "reasoned opinion".
The five Member States now have two months to comply. If they fail to do so, the Commission can bring the case before the European Court of Justice.
