EWEA accuses Commission of 'turning its back on jobs, leadership and energy security'

The European Commission has today (22 January) proposed a greenhouse gas target of 40% and a renewables target of 27% by 2030 in its Communication.

This, says the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) "is despite its own figures which show that setting a 30% renewables target would create over 560,000 more jobs in Europe and boost economic growth while saving billions on imported fossil fuel and health costs [1].  An even higher target would have an even greater impact."

The Commission, EWEA adds, is also ignoring the European Parliament, which voted in favour of a binding 30% renewables target for 2030 in committee earlier this month.

EWEA claims that:

• The Commission 2030 climate and energy paper sets a weak renewables target of 27%, and;
• the Commission has capitulated to anti-renewables lobby groups.

"The previously far-sighted and ambitious European Commission is a shadow of its former self, hiding behind the UK and other backward-looking member states and lobbies. By effectively advocating repatriation of energy policy to member states, President Barroso appears to have forgotten his previous calls for 'more European integration' on energy policy," said EWEA CEO Thomas Becker.

"The heads of state now need to show leadership and agree an ambitious 2030 climate and energy framework that benefits Europe and allows its world-leading wind energy sector to make Europe more prosperous and secure."

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