EC develops new 2030 policy framework

The Green Paper raises a number of issues that need to be addressed, including what type, nature and level of climate and energy targets should be set for 2030, how the energy system can best contribute to EU competitiveness and how Member States’ different capacities should be taken into account.

Günther Oettinger, EU commissioner for Energy, said: “We need to define our climate and energy policy framework for 2030 as soon as possible to ensure proper investment that will give us sustainable growth, affordable competitive energy prices and greater energy security. The new framework must take into account the consequences of the economic crisis, but it must also be ambitious enough to meet the necessary long term goal of cutting emissions 80-95% by 2050.”

In addition, the Commission has published a Consultative Communication on the future of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Europe, aimed at initiating a debate on the options available.

The EC has also adopted a renewable energy (RES) progress reports to look at the advancement of Member States’ energy targets. The report shows that the current policy framework of energy targets has resulted in strong growth of the renewable energy sector until 2010, with an EU RES share of 12.7%.

The consultation will run until 2 July 2013.