(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) Most EU states on track to hit 2020 renewables goal but major members like UK falling behind, says European Commission
The U.K., Netherlands and Luxembourg are lagging behind continental rivals when it comes to meeting EU renewable-energy goals, the European Commission has claimed.
While most EU members are on track to meet their target of sourcing 20 percent of energy from renewables by 2020, a new report from the European Commission on Tuesday suggests others, including France and Malta, need to assess whether their policies are working.
Miguel Arias Canete, climate commissioner, said on Tuesday: "The report shows once again that Europe is good at renewables, and that renewables are good for Europe.
"We have three times more renewable power per capita in Europe than anywhere else in the rest of the world. We export 35 billion euros ($39 billion) worth of renewables every year," Canete said.
Renewables made up more than one-third of consumption in 2013 in some EU member states such as Sweden, Denmark and Latvia, meaning they have already been making their 2020 target.
EU's 2020 renewable energy goal is thought to be an attempt by the 28-nation bloc to reduce its energy dependency from its main gas-supplier, Russia, amid the Ukrainian crisis.
The EU has imposed sanctions on Russia for its role in the conflict in Ukraine, and for its annexation of Crimea.
There is concern that Russia will use its position as principal supplier of gas to Europe as political leverage.
The EU, the largest energy importer in the world, imports 53 percent of its energy at an annual cost of around 400 billion euros ($426.8 billion), according to the European Commission.
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