Finland took over the presidency of the Council of the European union starting since 1 of July this year for a 6 months term.  A key priority for Finland’s Presidency is to strengthen the EU position as a global leader in climate action by adopting a long-term climate strategy to make the EU carbon neutral by 2050. 

Therefore, one of the important priorities of this presidency is also the governance mechanism of the Energy Union to fully achieve common targets for energy efficiency and renewable energy. Thus, the Members States are required to submit integrated national energy and climate plans (NECPs) to the Commission, which has already assessed the draft NECPs.

According to Commission’s latest feedback on draft NECPs by Member States, we are currently at the Union level about 1 – 2 percentage points behind the 32% target for renewable energy and about 6 percentage points behind the 32,5 % target for energy efficiency.

On 24 September 2019, together with the Commission, the Finland’s Presidency will work on the preparation of the long-term climate strategy, post- 2030 commitments and technological solutions promoting climate neutrality. The member states have time until the end of 2019 to submit their final NECPs and long-term strategies.

Check out more on Finland’s Presidency priorities via their official website here.

Check also the latest Recommendations on building modernisation and EPBD via REHVA’s news here.