To the attention of the EU Heads of State and Governments
25 June 2014
European Council to call for ambitious and binding renewable EU and national targets for 2030: an effective response to the EU energy security challenge
Dear Excellency,
We are writing to you to ask the European Council to call for determined 2030 climate and energy policies with an ambitious policy framework for renewable energy after 2020.
EREF calls for an earnest and clear-sighted approach on the increased use of renewable sources, based on an ambitious and mutually reinforcing binding set of 2030 targets for renewables, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction, underpinned by binding national targets.
In the context of the European debate on energy security, it has become clear that Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels exposes it both to volatile fossil fuel prices and geo-political risks, with the crisis in Ukraine being only the latest and increasingly problematic example. According to the Commission’s own analysis, the EU’s dependence on energy imports comes at the significant cost of €545 billion in 2012.1
EREF stresses that the deployment of renewables can relieve Europe’s economic and political reliance on imports of gas, coal, oil and uranium in the most sustainable manner. In 2010 alone, the use of renewable energy avoided import fuel costs of €30 billion in the EU.2
But Europe can and should go much further. As stated in the European Commission’s Impact Assessment for the 2030 Climate and Energy Framework, a 30% renewable target would mean 26% less gas imports than today. In comparison, a share of 27% would reduce imports by only 9%.3
As presented in a study from the German Renewable Energy Federation BEE 4 , renewable energies are providing answers to all the dimensions of the energy security challenge by limiting price risks and external supply disruption threats and being resilient to natural, technical and political risks.
Thus, the broad consensus that energy efficiency measures and renewables are no-regret options should now be translated into concrete and ambitious policies. Therefore, EREF calls on all heads of States and Governments to develop and agree upon a consistent strategy towards a sustainable energy system, based on domestic renewables and energy efficiency with an appropriate regulatory, financial and policy framework behind it.
The June Council is the place and point in time, where the fundamental decisions have to be taken to pave the way for an energy security strategy for Europe which is more than just reshuffling conventional energy supply.
Yours sincerely
EREF President
Savvas Seimanidis
1 European Commission, 2014, Energy Economic Developments in Europe, European Economy 1/2014.
2 European Commission, 2014, Energy Economic Developments in Europe, European Economy 1/2014, p. 118.
3 European Commission, 2014, Impact Assessment accompanying the Communication “A policy framework for climate and energy in
the period from 2020 up to 2030, p. 68.
4 http://www.eref-europe.org/wp-content/uploads/BEE-position-on-EU-Energy-Security-Strategy.pdf