22 January, Brussels – The European Commission has released its communication on an energy framework for the period 2020-2030. The paper proposes targets of a 40% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions (compared to 1990 levels) and for 27% of all energy used to be generated by renewables.
22 January, Brussels – The European Commission has released its communication on an energy framework for the period 2020-2030. The paper proposes targets of a 40% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions (compared to 1990 levels) and for 27% of all energy used to be generated by renewables.
The 27% RES target would be legally binding at the EU level, but without individually binding targets for Member States, leaving some confusion as to how the Commission could ensure that States remain on track.
It is understood that the UK, Poland and Spain are the main supporters of the current proposal. However, in the week before the paper was released, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland and Portugal openly advocated an ambitious, binding RES target.
Besides divisions in the European Council, the targets will also be discussed by the European Parliament, which has advocated a binding 30% RES target (including targets for Member States), 40% CO2 reductions and a binding 40% improvement in energy efficiency – the latter of which is only vaguely mentioned in the Communication.
The Parliament will discuss the Communication in its February plenary, the European Council at its Summit in March, and a decision is expected by June of this year.
Click to read the Commission’s Communication.