Renewable energy goal ‘not on the table’ at EU ministerial
Energy ministers from the 28 EU member states are expected to steer clear of potentially divisive talks on the bloc’s renewable energy target for 2030 in order to agree a “general approach” when they meet in Brussels next Monday (18 December).
Estonia, the current holder of the EU’s six-month rotating presidency, said it did not expect an in-depth discussion on the proposed targets at next week’s Energy Council meeting, EurActiv reports.
As far as member states are concerned, the reference objective for renewables in 2030 remains the 27% target agreed by EU leaders at a summit in 2014, said an Estonian official who briefed journalists on Tuesday (11 December).
“At the moment, I don’t see much flexibility from the member states,” the official explained, saying he would be surprised if ministers overruled the decision made by EU heads of states and governments.
The European Commission tabled the 27% renewable energy target as part of a 2030 Clean Energy package of legislation tabled in November last year, in line with EU commitments made under the Paris Agreement on climate change.
However, the rapid fall in renewable energy prices since then has persuaded the Commission to update its 2030 projections, saying there are now “additional arguments to also discuss the figure of 30%”.
