MEPs have voted to adopt the recommendations of a report to deploy offshore wind more quickly.
The report stresses that meeting the 2030 and 2050 targets requires faster deployment of offshore renewable energy, but maritime space and coasts must be managed more sustainably.
MEPs said that a net-zero emissions economy requires renewable energy to be deployed on an unprecedented scale, and stress the urgency of improving and expanding existing infrastructure.
Many member states are lagging behind in the necessary switch to renewables, they added.
MEPs highlight the importance of shortening procedures to get a permit and call on the member states to set up a transparent process and consider introducing time limits for issuing permits where necessary.
They stress that the EU is a technological leader in the offshore renewable energy production sector and could expect a significant economic boost by supporting the growth of clean energy production.
The NextGenerationEU recovery fund provides a unique opportunity to mobilise capital in addition to private investments, they added.
In addition, the MEPs said that offshore wind farms can benefit marine biodiversity if designed and built sustainably, but must coexist alongside other activities, such as fishing and maritime transport.
They also stressed that work needs to be done in order for the public to accept offshore wind and to convince citizens that renewable energy is key to achieving energy independence and security of supply.
It is crucial to design, develop and deploy renewable offshore energy in a circular and renewable way, as substantial amounts of metals and minerals are needed, MEPs added.
As a result, they are calling for an EU-wide landfill ban on decommissioned wind turbine blades by 2025.
Lead MEP Morten Petersen said: “The offshore renewable energy strategy is key to the green transition, where time is of the essence.
“We need lots of green electricity to fulfil our climate objectives and the offshore renewable energy strategy is absolutely essential in this regard.
“Today’s vote shows that we all understand the urgency of the matter and that we are putting offshore renewable energy front and centre in the fight against climate change.
“We need to introduce time limits, and remove the many barriers that are still standing in the way of a fast and successful integration of renewables in Europe.”
The report was adopted with 518 votes to 88, with 85 abstentions.
However, the World Wide Fund for Nature said the decision failed to align with the EU requirement for Member States to adopt an ecosystem-based approach (EBA) to planning their maritime activities, including offshore renewable energy.
This is requirement in both the EU Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSPD), the charity said.
WWF European Policy Office’s ocean policy officer Helena Rodrigues said: “Not only does the report fail to mention having an EBA to plan renewable energy activities in EU waters, it includes no call on the European Commission for guidance on how increasing offshore renewable energy capacity can be developed in line with the targets of EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy.“Further, the European Parliament has failed on several other points WWF has been advocating for.
“For example, it did not adopt a position on preventing offshore energy development in sensitive areas such as marine Natura 2000 sites or other areas valuable for the conservation of marine biological resources, including fish spawning grounds which fisheries depend on.”