MEPs called on Wednesday for a 40 per cent cut in CO2 emissions, a 30 per cent target for renewable energy and a 40 per cent target for energy efficiency by 2030, under the EU’s new long-term climate-change policy.            

MEPs say these targets should be binding. MEPs also criticise the European Commission’s recent proposals a sshort-sighted and unambitious.

The co-rapporteur for the environment committee, Anne Delvaux said: “The price of energy seriously affects companies, industry and, more specifically, our citizens. If we want to reduce our energy imports we have to produce more in Europe, by making better and more efficient use of our resources,” said (EPP, BE).

“If we have a broad energy mix with greater energy efficiency, this is the best option to reduce to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to encourage new technologies and innovation, create jobs, and change our economies into greener economies. This is why we need three binding objectives.”

Konrad Szymanski (ECR, PL),co-rapporteur from the industry committee added: “This result is not satisfactory. We are promising ourselves, Europeans and European industry, that this new climate policy would be realistic, flexible and cost- efficient.

“This are very good assumptions. However, if we double the emission reduction target after 2020, it is not realistic. It is a road to reduce the competitiveness of European industry”.

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