Flemish Energy and Climate Agency

The agency was originally created as the "Flemish Energy Agency" (Dutch: Vlaams Energieagentschap (VEA)) by a decision of the Flemish Government dated 16 April 2004 as part of the government reform project Beter Bestuurlijk Beleid.

The agency employs a highly educated, technically trained staff, about two thirds of whom are engineers, legal and environmental protection specialists.

The mission of VEKA is to prepare, stimulate, coordinate, implement, monitor and evaluate policy initiatives in the field of energy and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to the transition to a climate-neutral and sustainable society in Flanders, whereby the policy instruments are used in a cost-efficient and high-quality manner, and the social and economic impact is taken into account.

According to Article 2.1.3 of the Energy Decree of 19 November 2010, VEKA has the following tasks: The agency works closely with other Flemish agencies and administrations, as well as with the federal and local governments to develop new decrees and regulations and to enforce existing energy regulations.

To enforce the compliance to energy regulations, the agency has the power to impose administrative sanctions, for instance fines, as punishment for non-compliance.