A multi-criteria classification approach for assessing energy poverty in the European Union

Energy Poverty (EP) poses a pervasive challenge within the European Union (EU), impacting both public health and the trajectory of sustainable development. Despite its prevalence, the existing body of literature addressing the measurement of EP in the EU remains limited. This study aims to contribute to the literature by employing a comprehensive approach to assess and classify the EP levels across 24 EU Member States (MSs) for the year 2020. We utilize the Tri-nC method of the ELimination Et Choix Traduisant la Realité (ELECTRE) family for multi-criteria classification, along with the Simos, Roy, and Figueira method for assigning weights to nine distinct criteria. The findings of our study indicate that 50 % of EU MSs exhibit a moderate level of EP, 29.17 % fall within the low EP category, and 12.5 % demonstrate a high level of EP. Notably, Bulgaria is classified within the range of Very High to High EP, while Romania falls between High and Moderate EP. Additionally, a discernible pattern was identified: Eastern and Southern European nations exhibit a notably high EP level. In contrast, the Scandinavian countries and Central Europe demonstrate a low EP level, while Western Europe and the Baltic countries fall into the category of moderate EP. These findings shed light on the regional disparities in EP across the EU, providing valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to address this pressing issue.