Published: Wed, 17 January 2018
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The European Parliament today strongly backed the target to make 35 percent of the EU’s energy supply come from renewable sources by 2030, following today’s vote on the Promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources report which Seán Kelly MEP negotiated for the EPP Group. The Parliament’s call for the higher target surpasses the Council and Commission’s proposal of 27pc by 2030.
“The Parliament has today made an important statement: that we want Europe to be the world leader on renewable energy, that we want to empower citizens to participate in the energy transition, that we want to give certainty and visibility to investors, and indeed that we are serious about tackling climate change,” said Mr Kelly MEP in Strasbourg today.
“The compromise, which was hard won, strikes the right balance between being cost-effective, and showing the needed levels of ambition. The costs of renewables are falling rapidly; the 35 percent overall target, along with the 2 pp year-on-year heat target, and the 12pc transport target are more than achievable, and will drive the investments that will help to decarbonise all sectors.
“Additionally, with the compromise we have reached on biofuels, Parliament has rejected the Commission’s proposed phase-out in favour of protecting investment. This is extremely positive,” Mr Kelly said.
The Clean Energy package of three reports voted on today aim to establish a framework for Member States to draft national energy and climate plans with monitoring at EU level to ensure climate and energy goals are achieved.
“We must keep in mind that this is just the beginning. The focus now turns to the negotiations with Council where we must ensure that these ambitious positions we have agreed in Parliament will drive the final agreement to an ambitious position.”
Mr Kelly highlighted that technical innovations are making renewable sources of energy more viable and creating new jobs.
The three reports voted today are vital pieces of legislation which will help create new jobs in Europe and meet our obligations under the historic Paris Climate Change Agreement, at which MEP Kelly represented the Parliament.
Seán Kelly MEP is the Leader of Fine Gael in the European Parliament and a Member of the Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.
