To:
Energy Ministers
Deputy Energy Ministers
Energy Attaches, Permanent Representations to the European Union
Cc:
Ms Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition
Mr Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy
Mr Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing
Mr Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth
Ms Celine Gauer, Director-General, DG Energy
Mr Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General, DG Climate
Ms Kerstin Jorna, Director-General, DG Grow
Monday 22 June 2026
Dear Energy Ministers
Hardwiring investment-orientated post-2030 renewable energy targets and frameworks
Ahead of the TTE Council scheduled for 26 June, we urge you to confirm your commitment to
an independent, prosperous and competitive Europe by endorsing a robust framework that
accelerates renewable energy investments post-2030.
The Renewable Energy Directive has proven to be one of Europe’s most effective examples of
industrial policy. It has nurtured countless industries, provided high-quality employment and
fostered technological excellence. Europe’s renewable energy sectors employ over 1,8 million
direct and 4,5 million indirect professionals, contribute over €150 billion to the EU’s GDP, and
over €200 billion in the purchase of raw materials such as steel, aluminium, copper and cement.
Renewable energy is foundational to Europe’s strength, resilience and independence as
witnessed against the backdrop of conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The EU spent €336 billion on fossil fuel imports in 2025. This bill is set to rise further in 2026,
undermining Europe’s energy security and competitiveness. Meanwhile, Europe’s installed
renewable energy capacity, which only comprised 25.2% of final energy consumption in 2024,
saved €54.1 billion from imported fossil energy in 2025.
The direction of travel is clear. Accelerating the uptake of renewable electricity, heating and
cooling is fundamental to Europe’s energy security. The same is true for grids, thermal networks,
storage, demand response and mineral extraction.
Investor confidence is of paramount importance. Channelling significant volumes of capital into
rewiring Europe’s economy is the primary objective. Dramatic changes to the current investment
inducing Renewable Energy Directive must be avoided.
Therefore, the post-2030 energy framework must incorporate the following:
- A binding and ambitious EU renewable energy security target to 2040. This is essential
for investor confidence and critical for European supply chains to plan for industrial
deployment. The innovative renewables as well as the renewable heating and cooling
targets should also be extended to 2040. Innovative renewables need specific regulatory
and financial measures to bend their cost curves, drive market uptake and ensure market
visibility needed to attract private investment and scale up manufacturing in Europe. - EU funds should be rewired to maximise private capital leverage for the rapid
deployment of renewable energy capacity, infrastructure and commercialisation of
innovative technology. - A steering committee should be established to fast-track implementation of permitting
rules and the harmonisation of digitalised and time-bound systems, as well as apply to
all renewables, including subsurface and underwater applications. - The Governance Regulation should be transformed into investment blueprints with
robust indicators. They should measure essential outcomes ranging from the roll out of
renewable energy capacity, the displacement of imported fossil energy in electricity
generation, heating, storage, electrification of industry, mobility and transport, increased
manufacturing capacity, infrastructure, technological innovation, employment, the
number of permitting issuances for renewable capacity and manufacturing capacity,
reductions in the time for permitting decisions, and the reduction of taxes on renewable
energy capacity as well as taxes on electricity consumption. - EU-wide technology-specific renewable energy auctions are needed to boost renewable
capacity and manufacturing facilities to deliver energy independence by 2040.
We look forward to working with you to protect Europe and ensure its prosperity.
Yours sincerely
European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC)
Wind Europe
Solar Impulse Foundation
The Association of European Renewable Energy Research Centers (EUREC)
European Solar Thermal Electricity Association (ESTLA)
Ocean Energy Europe
Solar Heat Europe
European Renewable Energies Federation (EREF)
Global Renewable Energy Alliance
Airborne Wind Europe
European Heat Pump Association (EHPA)
Solar Power Europe
