Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat)

The majority of member states accepted that renewable energy subsidies should be rationalised as part of the state aid modernisation process but were concerned that there was a risk of contradiction between European energy policy and the state aid guidelines.

The Council then debated the 2030 climate and energy framework. The presidency asked member states for their views on three issues: how the Commission’s proposals would contribute to the EU’s energy objectives of sustainability, competitiveness and security of supply; the new governance system; and the proposed set of indicators. The Commissioner argued that the 40% greenhouse gas target was very ambitious. The majority of member states endorsed a greenhouse gas target of 40%. I called for a 50% target in the event of an ambitious international agreement.

A number of member states called for more ambitious binding EU targets for renewable energy—of 30 to 40%—and binding energy efficiency targets. Others called for a technology neutral approach with no EU and national-level targets for renewables and energy efficiency. I and others supported an EU renewables target of 27%, on the condition that they would not become binding national targets.

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