Subject: Impact of Brexit on the Union’s energy and climate objectives
Bearing in mind that, on 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom withdrew from the Union and Euratom and that, as indicated in the report ‘EU Power Sector Review of 2019’ by Agora Energiewende and Sandbag, the actual impact of Brexit on the future EU climate and energy framework will depend on the future relationship between the EU27 and the United Kingdom, I would like to ask the following:
1. What impact will Brexit will have on the EU’s ability to meet its 2020 energy and climate targets, in particular as regards renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions? What measures and proposals is the Commission considering to ensure that the objectives are met in the EU without the United Kingdom?
2. This report indicates, for example, that, taking Brexit into account, the greenhouse gas emission levels of the EU 27 in 2018 did not correspond to 23.2 % but to 20.6 %, i.e. below the 1990 emission levels.
3. What measures is the Commission considering in order to adjust, where necessary, the targets set in the ‘Green Energy Package’ for 2030, notably as regards renewable sources of energy?
Answer given by Executive Vice-President Timmermans on behalf of the European Commission (10 June 2020)
The withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) does not change the renewables and energy efficiency targets for 2020 set in 2007, or the implementing legislation. In accordance with the Withdrawal Agreement, Union law continues to be applicable to and in the UK until 31 December 2020.
Accordingly, until the end of 2020, the UK remains part of the EU Emission Trading System, the Effort Sharing Decision, the Renewables Directive (RD) and the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).
The UK remains obliged to comply with the 2020 national binding target of 15% for the share of energy from renewable sources in final energy consumption established by the RD and to implement the EED and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
The Commission confirms the figures for 2018 in the quoted report. The future EU-UK agreement should reaffirm the Parties’ commitments to effectively implement international agreements to tackle climate change, such as the Paris Agreement.
The European Green Deal Communication confirms the Commission’s intention to propose to increase the EU’s greenhouse gas emission reductions target for 2030 to at least 50% and towards 55% compared with the 1990 level in a responsible way. These proposals will clearly address how to reduce emissions, superseding the current targets.
This will require significant additional investments, to be assessed as part of the impact assessment that will be completed later in 2020. It will assess among other how measures and actions related to energy efficiency and renewable energy need to contribute to achieving climate ambition increase.
