Implementing the EU 2030 Climate and Energy Framework – a closer look at renewables and opportunities for an Energy Union - Towards2030-dialogue Issue Paper #2

On 23/24 October 2014 the European Council decided on a new set of targets for 2030 by adopting the “2030 Climate and Energy Policy Framework.” This framework includes binding targets for (i) domestically reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% until 2030 compared to 1990 and for (ii) increasing the share of renewables to 27%. Finally, there is an indicative target to improve energy efficiency by at least 27% compared to “busi- ness-as-usual” projections of the future energy demand.

The framework decided raises several practical questions that need to be addressed in the upcoming legislative process, specifically regarding renewables. The main issues revolve around the need for dedicated support for reaching the renewables target, how to ensure a legally binding character of the EU-target in the absence of binding national commitments and how to share the overall 27% target among individual entities such as single EU member states or groups of EU member states. The aim of this paper is to provide a first analysis of the above-mentioned issues and to offer policy recommendations based on our findings.

The aim of this policy brief is to provide a first analysis of the above-mentioned issues and to offer policy re- commendations based on our findings.