Parliament rubber-stamps Europe’s 2030 clean energy laws

(EurActiv, 14 Nov 2018) The European Parliament voted on Tuesday (13 November) a set of three clean energy laws for 2030, including binding targets for renewable energies, an indicative objective on energy savings and a separate text on the governance of the Energy Union.

By 2030, energy efficiency in the EU has to have improved by 32.5%, whereas the share of energy from renewables should be at least 32% of the EU’s gross final consumption.

Both targets are to be reviewed by 2023 and can only be raised, not lowered.

With the approval of the three legislative files, MEPs confirmed the provisional agreement reached in June on energy efficiency (434 votes to 104 with 37 abstentions), renewables (495 votes to 68 with 61 abstentions) and governance of the Energy Union (475 votes to 100 with 33 abstentions).

This means the European Union has taken an additional step in finalising its Clean Energy Package, also known as Winter Package, tabled in November 2016.

As it is, Tuesday’s vote comes after the reform of the carbon market, the agreement on the Effort Sharing Regulation, the inclusion of forests and land in the EU’s carbon footprint (LULUCF) and the adoption of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

“Historic”

In a press conference, the four lawmakers who steered the texts through Parliament expressed their satisfaction after two years of sometimes harsh negotiations with member states.

Michèle Rivasi, a Green MEP from France and co-rapporteur on the governance regulation, called the new piece of legislation “historic”.

“It is the most beautiful one adopted in this legislature,” she said.

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EurActiv, 14 Nov 2018: Parliament rubber-stamps Europe’s 2030 clean energy laws