The European Commission has launched action against all but one of the EU member states for their failure to implement renewable energy directives.
It has opened infringement procedures against 26 countries within the bloc, putting them on notice for “failing to communicate to the European Commission the full transposition” of a 2023 directive into national law.
Only Denmark has escaped the reprimand, being the only EU country to complete the process by deadlines set for 21 May and 1 July, according to the Commission.
Member states now have two months to respond and formally adopt the directives into national legislation.
If they fail to do so, the Commission said it may decide to escalate its warning to a “reasoned opinion”.
The directive (2023/2413) contains rules aimed at accelerating the deployment of renewable energy in all sectors of the economy, including power generation, heating, transport and industrial uses.
“They set important horizontal and cross-cutting measures to promote the deployment of renewables, such as the strengthening of guarantees of origin, facilitating energy system integration through the promotion of electrification and renewable hydrogen, and safeguards to ensure a more sustainable bioenergy production,” according to the Commission.
It said the legislation is “instrumental” to the deployment of homegrown clean energy, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening European energy security.