As part of the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), MEPs voted to increase the share of renewables in energy consumption on 13 July. According to the revised directive, by 2030, the European Union’s final energy consumption should be at least 45% renewable.

In addition to raising this target, MEPs raised the number of cross-border projects, and scrutinised the transport sector – in which, the use of renewables can lead to a 16% decrease in greenhouse gases.

Alongside the focus on renewables, the importance of energy saving targets was also emphasized by the MEPs – in a separate vote, regarding the revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), the target for the collective reduction of energy consumption was increased to 40% by 2030, compared to 2007 projections.

These proposals, which are part of the RepowerEU package, couple with the other ambitious, legally binding goals within the EU’s overarching climate strategy outlined within the ‘Fit for 55’ package. The key aims of this package are reaching the 55% emissions reduction target by 2030, and carbon neutrality by 2050.

The final vote on the RED and EED will be held during the plenaries, between 12-15 September.