Minister Röttgen welcomes Commissioner Oettinger's proposal on cross-border support for projects
Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen has welcomed the new orientation of EU policy on renewable energy following the presentation of the progress report on renewable energy today by the European Commission. In its report the European Commission outlines the financing it considers necessary in the coming years to reach the EU-wide target of a renewables' share of at least 20 percent in European energy supply.
Minister Röttgen commented: "The proposal by Commissioner Oettinger is an important step in the right direction. I support the approach of striving for greater convergence of national support systems and improved market integration of renewable energies and, in addition to national expansion, promoting individual cross-border projects together with other member states. In doing this we can adapt the level of support to the conditions in the respective country and ensure that the benefits of the chosen location actually reach consumers as cost savings, rather than excess support leading to quite the opposite. This is why I am pleased that within the German government we have agreed, on the basis of our Energy Concept, that an EU support system with uniform EU-wide prices is not an option. Commissioner Oettinger's progress report encourages this path."
The report focuses on optimisation and greater convergence of national support systems towards improved market integration. It also proposes member states working together to promote individual cross-border projects at cost-effective locations abroad. This option of joint promotion was introduced in the 2009 directive on promoting renewable energy sources.