For the first time ever, the European Parliament has voted in favor of setting a binding renewable energy target for 2030.
‘The parliament's vote sends a strong message to the European Council as it prepares its response to the European Commission's Energy Roadmap 2050,’ notes Stephane Bourgeois, head of regulatory affairs at the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).
‘Ministers should take heed of the European Parliament and endorse a binding renewables target for 2030," he adds. "Binding targets for renewables are proven to be effective, and targets for 2030 would continue to drive European industry, boost energy security and are key in tackling climate change.’
According to EWEA, Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger called for a decision on such a target by 2014.
The European Parliament also voted in favor of calling on the commission to correct the failings of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), possibly through a set-aside of allowances.
‘MEPs have voted to take the urgent action which is needed to boost carbon prices in order to help the carbon market recover and fix the ETS," says Rémi Gruet, senior regulatory affairs adviser for climate and environment at EWEA. ‘The simplest way to do this is to remove surplus allowances from the market. The commission now needs to propose measures to do this.’
