The European Commission has sent a formal notice to 26 member nations for not complying with the RED
Only Denmark has fully transposed the provision by the legal date of July 1, 2024
The remaining nations have 2 months to respond to the EU notice and complete their transposition
The European Commission has taken a strict stance against 26 member states that have failed to implement rules that can accelerate permitting procedures for renewable energy deployment as part of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED). It has now sent a formal notice to the defaulting countries for opening infringement procedures against them.
The RED was adopted by the EU in 2023 setting the bloc a binding target to achieve 42.5% renewable energy share by 2030, up from 32% earlier, but aiming for 45%. Member states were instructed to have binding targets nationally for various sectors including transport, building industry, and heating and cooling (see EU Adopts New Renewable Energy Directive).
The measures to be implemented into national laws are aimed at simplifying and accelerating permitting for both renewable energy projects as well as the necessary infrastructure to integrate additional clean energy into the grid.
There are specific measures like strengthening the single-contact point to complete the process in a time-bound manner, and the presumption that renewable energy projects and related grid infrastructure are in the public interest.
However, to date, the commission says only Denmark has notified full transposition of these provisions by the legal deadline of July 1, 2024. Hence, it has sent the notices to the other defaulting countries, giving them 2 months to respond and complete their transposition.
The 26 nations are Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.
If these countries fail to send in a satisfactory response, the commission may decide to issue a ‘reasoned opinion.’