The European Parliament has today approved a 32% renewable energy target by 2030 for the EU region.
The vote – 495 in favour, 68 against with 61 abstentions – confirms a provisional agreement reached between the European Commission and EU Council in June.
Parliament also confirmed a 32.5% goal for energy efficiency and governance of the Energy Union. All three are part of the Clean Energy for All Europeans package.
Both targets will be reviewed in 2023, but can only be raised, not lowered.
Member states must also ensure that citizens are allowed to generate renewable energy for their own consumption, to store it and to sell the excess production.
Each country must also present a 10-year ‘Integrated national energy and climate plan’ with national targets, contributions, policies and measures by 31 December 2019 and every 10 years thereafter.
The European Council will now formally adopt the targets, after which the new rules will be published in the Official Journal of the EU and enter into force 20 days after publication.
Member states will have to transpose the new elements of renewables and energy efficiency directives into national law no later than 18 months after the entry into force.