Cut red tape for renewables, 11 EU countries urge European Commission

Eleven EU member states have called on the European Commission to help support renewable energy. They propose cutting red tape and making it easier to adopt the legislation needed to get projects underway. The countries presented their proposal in a joint communication sent last week ahead of the adoption of the European wind energy package.

In a letter reported by Euractiv, 11 countries - Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Austria and Greece - highlight the benefits of renewable energy, while also arguing that it needs greater support.

“Current EU projects on renewable energy are moving in the right direction. To maintain the EU’s pioneering role on climate, we need additional support measures to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy in Europe,” said Austrian Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler.

Support for wind energy

The joint communication comes as the European Commission has published a new proposal to pave the way for greater use of wind energy, and follows the approval of a new EU law on renewable energy. But the countries say more is needed.

The 11 countries’ call includes “renewables without borders”, which would enable better connections between member states. Europe must move faster in coordinating, planning and building the necessary infrastructure for sharing electricity.

They argue that renewable hydrogen and renewable energy must also be supported by a “well-functioning” internal market focused on creating a level playing field within the EU that can withstand global competition.

The Commission is already taking action

The 11 countries are also calling for new laws to be implemented swiftly, such as a law to promote renewable energy. The European Commission is already looking at ways to achieve this, with measures expected as part of the European wind energy package.

According to the countries, more must be done to remove the red tape that is blocking renewable energy. They are calling on the Commission to “continue working on ways to speed up permitting procedures, including by further examining and removing obstacles and barriers in the relevant EU legislation”.

The signatories see the development of renewables as a solution to both the climate crisis and the energy crisis.

“We are facing multiple crises. The past eight years have been the hottest on record globally, and the number of heatwaves and natural disasters, fires, droughts and floods is increasing every year,” says the joint communication from the “Friends of Renewables” group.

Energy security

“Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine shows Europe’s vulnerability due to its dependence on non-renewable energy sources and imports of critical raw materials,” the statement continues, adding that this poses a security risk and fuels inflation.

The EU must ensure it does not replace its dependence on Russian gas with other dependencies, the 11 countries warn. Although the joint communication does not explicitly mention China, it is a dominant force in producing the materials needed to generate renewable energy.

To avoid future dependencies, the EU needs “a combination of targeted policies aimed at strengthening the EU’s leadership” in critical technologies. The countries also say it is “necessary to present a common strategy for developing key value chains for critical raw materials”.

At the international level, the countries reiterate their support for the EU member states’ call on the Commission to ensure the goal of tripling global installed renewable energy capacity by 2030.

A global perspective

The countries also want the EU executive to look further ahead, including by assessing the impact of the EU’s 2040 climate target. They say it should also set a target for the energy sector to provide investment certainty.

“Together with a global energy efficiency target, this could support international cooperation and innovation, stimulate investment in renewable energy technologies, create jobs and enhance energy security,” the countries say.

“They would also underscore countries’ shared commitment by providing a clear and achievable roadmap for the global deployment of renewable energy technologies,” they add.

The EU will promote these goals at the COP28 international climate conference, which will take place in November and December in Dubai. Work is underway in the EU to support renewable energy and develop a sustainable and secure electricity grid.