The RED has proved to be a successful tool in achieving the EU energy and climate change
objectives. The clearly defined European regulatory framework for renewables by 2020,
agreed in co-decision and enshrined in legislation, setting out binding national targets for
renewables, was decisive in incentivising Member States to adopt enabling renewable energy
support policies and in attracting private investment in renewable energy assets.
In addition to traditional mechanisms used to enforce binding targets, such as the
enforcement of the legislative transposition obligation, the enforcement of implementation
and the obligation to prepare national action plans in the format of a binding template, in the
RED the Commission made use of a number of other governance tools, such as the revision
of the NREAPs and the progress reports. This clear reporting and monitoring system was
developed to ensure that Member States do not lag behind their declared contributions.