The Parliament debate on a new legislation to increase the use of renewable energy in line with the EU’s Green Deal and REPowerEU initiatives. The directive, already informally agreed with the Council, is intended to raise the share of renewables in the EU’s final energy consumption to 42.5% by 2030. Member states are urged to aim for 45%. The new law will also speed up the approval process for new renewable energy power plants, such as solar and wind farms, as well as the adaptation of existing ones. Opening statement by Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, by Nils TORVALDS (Renew Europe, FI), Rapporteurs, Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Barbara THALER (EPP, AT) and Carmen AVRAM (S&D, RO), Rapporteurs for ENVI, TRAN and AGRI Committees. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

renewable energy (T)

TORVALDS, Nils (Renew, FI)

PIEPER, Markus (EPP, DE)

THALER, Barbara (EPP, AT)

AVRAM, Carmen (S&D, RO)

SIMSON, Kadri (EE, EC)

European Green Deal (T)

Fit for 55 (T)

Renewable energy directive: Opening statement by Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, by Nils TORVALDS (Renew Europe, FI), Rapporteur, Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Barbara THALER (EPP, AT) and Carmen AVRAM, Rapporteur

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, Yes. Thank you very much indeed, Madam President and Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen. So, looking to greater independence as well as reducing our CO2 emissions, we set the bar higher up from the 30% to 42.5%. That in itself is already a success for the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, So, we're saying further, higher, quicker. We need to show that we in Brussels can cut the red tape and act pragmatically. We are making sure that renewable energies are labelled as being in the overwhelming public interest.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, We are moving into new areas, we are approving new files and we are also making sure that we've got the infrastructure, the networks as well as the storage capacity required, ladies and gentlemen.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, Now if there are no responses from the authorities, then it can be assumed that there are no objections. But, of course, we have to improve the supply of renewables because that will have a positive knock on effect on prices. Now, in the case of photovoltaic, as well as waves and thermal energy and also biomass from the forest, they are all renewables, I remain renewable and that is a good thing.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, So, expand the supply by having speedier approval by the authorising agencies. That is a good thing. Member States are going to have to take a view on energy imports. Now, we also have a Delegated Act for Green Hydrogen from the Commissioner. Now, we're not pragmatic enough yet, but we will very soon have a review.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, So, what we have done really is set the stage for a more rapid change in our energy mix, but be under no illusions that comparatively we have become slower. We have had subsidies for years now, but there is still a lack of pressure for innovation in the sector and that is why it is so very important that we have said that 5% of our extension capacity has to go beyond the state of the art.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, We have to have floating solar cells, we have to have hydro-plants, we have to have all of these forward looking technologies because nothing is impossible. We need to have an electricity system with price signals which make storage attractive. We also need cross-border energy networks as well as more investment in national network infrastructure. And we need hydrogen now.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, As soon as we can switch to green hydrogen, I mean, as soon as it gets to our plants and works, the sooner the better. So, that is why we have to also approve the rainbow when it comes to hydrogen. Now, this is always going to require compromises, but I think that recent history shows that we are able to agree when it matters.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, We have got the centrepiece of the Green Deal, which is well on its way, and I believe that we can't leave everything to the market and to the Member States. We have to try and scale back bureaucracy, but that is going to require compromises going forward. And if we are able to muster majority behind compromises here in the Parliament, then we, as we have shown, are successful in our negotiations with the Council and Commission.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, So, I would like to thank the shadows for all of their trust in one another. Thanks to all our advisors and assistance, gratitude goes to the Commission as well for its fantastic coordination. I mean, not necessarily everybody was on board in the Commission, but ultimately this was a great achievement, a great result, and it is wonderful, having worked through the night, 7:00 in the morning, we reached an agreement. Thank you very much.

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Rapporteur for Committee, President, Commissioner. The European Parliament has taken wise decisions at times and sometimes this wise decisions, in 2003, which took a decision on renewables, it didn't take a long time to realise that was perhaps not the cleverest decision in the world, which is why we start the discussions again, because the idea we had then destroyed too much forest.

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Rapporteur for Committee, Now, we may have to have another look at this decision as well. But I would like to thank colleague Mr. Pieper for the cooperation and also the envy shadows, and I think we've come up with a decent result, but I fear that we're going to have to come back to the issue of renewables on a number of occasions over the next few years. And I hope that we will become ever wiser. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Thank you. Honourable Members of the European Parliament. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a historic moment for renewables in the EU. Your vote approving the Renewable Energy Directive will be key to addressing climate change and Europe's energy security. And my warmest thanks to the rapporteur, Mr. Pieper, and of the team of shadows for all your efforts in bringing this heavy, find a successful conclusion.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Thank you also for integrating the read our EU proposal in such a smooth and timely fashion. Let me focus on some key elements that we should be particularly proud of. First, thanks to the revised renewable target of 42.5%, we will double the renewables share in our energy mix compared to today. And this is the right signal attached to the massive investment required.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Second, the agreed Directive gives us the right tools to roll out renewables across different sectors of the economy, including crucial sectors such as heating and cooling. In distant transport. Third, we achieved a balanced agreement on the sustainability of bioenergy, as we phase out fossil fuels. Bioenergy will have a role to play, but we agreed to utilise it in a way that minimises the impact on forests.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Fourth, the new permitting rules will be a game changer for renewables deployment. Currently, approximately 130 gigawatts of renewable projects are waiting to receive a permit in the EU. These projects alone could represent around 20 billion cubic metres of gas savings and 36 million tonnes of coal savings.

 Honourable Members, I must move fast to implement the new rules as this will translate into faster renewables rollout. The Commission stands ready to support Member States and stakeholders in the swift and correct implementation of these crucial measures. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Carmen AVRAM, Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, Thank you very much, Ms. President, Commissioner, I welcome the outcome of the institutional negotiations because the energy mix is adapted to the needs of the Member States. I am referring here to biomass.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Carmen AVRAM, Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, In a country like Romania with it's enough biomass, it should be able to use this without there being an imbalance between the use of wood as construction material and as biomass. If we have taken biomass of the national mix, that would have led to poverty and some people would not be able to make both ends meet.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Carmen AVRAM, Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, We need to find a balance between diversity and the environment. We need to look at the peculiarities of all Member States at a time when we are trying to get an independent energy supply. Thank you.