S&Ds and The Greens call on EU energy ministers to raise the 2030 targets on efficiency and renewables.

 

EU energy ministers will meet in Sofia on Thursday 19 April in order to take stock of ongoing trilogue negotiations related to the Clean Energy Package. Ahead of these discussions, José Blanco López, Miroslav Poche, Michèle Rivasi and Claude Turmes declared the following:

 

"In light of the very limited progress obtained to date by the Bulgarian Presidency, we call on member states to make a step forward, integrate the need to accelerate our move towards the full decarbonisation of the economy and subsequently increase 2030 objectives to reap all the benefits of renewables and energy efficiency. Without significant progress on these fundamental elements, striking a deal would seem more than ever out of reach."

 

 

"The Council lacks ambition. Recent analysis show that 27% is very far from being the optimal target for 2030 and is based on outdated cost assumptions. 35% is the bare minimum if we want the EU to become the world leader in renewables." 

 

 

"Europe needs a binding target of 35% and a strong Article 7. Energy efficiency is a no-brainer: it creates growth and local jobs, helps in fighting climate change and reduces our energy dependency. It is the best way forward to help people to deal with their energy bills and to fight energy poverty. EU energy ministers need to raise their ambition."

 

 

"Member states should acknowledge the scale of the impacts of climate change. Achieving a net-zero carbon economy by 2050 at the latest is the only way to implement the Paris Agreement and fulfil our climate commitments."