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Brussels urges Spain and 15 other countries on their energy and climate plans

by AI | 11.Sep 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The energy spokesperson of the European Commission, Tim McPhie, assured that “the prompt presentation of this plan will help activate the necessary investments to meet the 2030 climate targets”.

Wind turbines of the largest wind farm in the Czech Republic, Krystofovy Hamry, located in the Ore Mountains, near the border with Germany. Photo: Tomas Tkacik / Zuma Press / ContactoPhoto

Brussels – The European Commission has once again urged Spain and 15 other Member States on Wednesday to present their energy and climate plans “as soon as possible” after the deadline for submitting them to Brussels expired on June 30, a date that only Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and Sweden respected, while Austria has been sanctioned for not even presenting a draft.

The community executive’s Energy spokesperson, Tim McPhie, already made a call to the lagging countries on July 1, and reminded the legal obligation of the capitals to submit these documents, a warning that he reiterated this Wednesday on the occasion of the presentation of the 2024 State of Energy Report.

Since then, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Latvia have also submitted their plans and although there is no officially communicated deadline, Brussels has insisted that it wants them “as soon as possible”, as explained by McPhie himself, “the prompt submission of this plan will help activate the necessary investments to meet the 2030 climate objectives and contribute to the decarbonization of the European industry, in order to ensure affordable and sustainable energy supplies for Europe.”

These plans ensure that the EU meets its energy and climate targets for 2030, including the reduction of greenhouse gases, achieving a minimum 32% share of renewable energy, ensuring greater electrical interconnection, or achieving a minimum improvement of 32.5% in energy efficiency.

“We have worked very hard to establish these objectives in legislation and now it is up to the national authorities to finalize these plans and implement this legislation so that companies and citizens across Europe can see the benefits of our green transitions,” the spokesperson pointed out.

As for the next steps, he already reminded in July that “it is a legal obligation of Member States to present these final plans”, something that the Commission has already raised “urgently” in several ministers’ meetings.

Otherwise, “if necessary and appropriate”, the community executive has at its disposal the legal follow-up instruments it deems necessary to use. (September 11)