Renewables. Commission opens proceedings to 26 member states

The European Commission opened infringement proceedings on Thursday against 26 Member States, including Portugal, for failing to communicate to Brussels the transposition of new rules to promote renewable energy in the European Union (EU).

The transposition of the amended directive (EU) 2023/2413 should have been communicated by May 21 , except with regard to certain provisions relating to the granting of licenses, the deadline for which had already expired on July 1, 2024, and was only done by Denmark, according to a statement.

The new rules aim to accelerate the development of renewable energy in all sectors of the economy —not just the electricity sector, but also, and especially, in those where progress is more difficult, such as heating and cooling systems, buildings, transport, and industry—sectors in which new targets have also been set or existing ones strengthened.

These rules establish horizontal and cross-cutting measures to promote the expansion of renewable energy , such as facilitating the integration of the energy system through the promotion of electrification and renewable hydrogen, and guarantees aimed at ensuring more sustainable bioenergy production.

The EU executive considers that the implementation of the directive is essential to accelerate the installation of domestically produced clean energy , to continue the path of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector — which currently represents more than 75% of the EU's total greenhouse gas emissions — and to strengthen energy security.

The 26 Member States have two months to inform Brussels whether their national legislation complies with the directive.