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Widespread support in EU Parliament for 45% renewable energy target

(EurActiv, 15 Mar 2022) In reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there is growing support across the European Parliament to increase the EU’s 2030 renewable energy target and break away from Russian fossil fuels, lawmakers from across the political spectrum told EURACTIV.

Currently, just over 22% of Europe’s energy comes from renewables. In July, the European Commission proposed amending the EU’s renewable energy directive to increase this share to 40% by 2030.

Now, in response to Russia’s invasion, the European Parliament is set to push for this target to be increased to 45%.

“With Putin’s war in Ukraine, it is crystal clear that Europe must become more independent from fossil energy – more than ever before,” said Markus Pieper, a German conservative lawmaker who is steering the Parliament’s position on the EU’s renewable energy law.

“It’s like a wake-up call – we have to focus more on renewable energy because it’s the only energy which makes us independent,” he told EURACTIV.

“This is why I have proposed raising the 2030 EU’s renewable energy target from 32% to 45% by 2030,” he said.

The right-wing German MEP, who is part of the European People’s Party (EPP), had already suggested amendments to improve the ambition of the European Commission’s proposal, which he presented in mid-February.

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EurActiv, 15 Mar 2022: Widespread support in EU Parliament for 45% renewable energy target