What happened
On 21 September 2026, the European Commission announced a proposal for a harmonised rating framework covering data centres in the European Union.
The measure was set out in the Commission’s Daily News communication. The announcement presents the framework as a proposal rather than an established scheme.
Its stated objective is to advance energy efficiency and sustainability within the EU data-centre sector.
Why it matters
A shared approach to rating data centres could become relevant to organisations that operate facilities or obtain data-centre services in the EU. The Commission has placed the proposal within its work on the sector’s energy performance and sustainability.
The available announcement does not describe how the rating framework would operate. It therefore does not establish criteria, reporting arrangements or application requirements.
What to do next
Data-centre operators, customers and sustainability teams should follow subsequent Commission material for the proposed framework’s scope and design. They should assess the proposal against existing energy-efficiency and sustainability information used for their facilities and services once further detail is published.
