In what is called ‘The EU Climate And Energy Package’, European leaders agreed in 2007 on - and enacted in 2009 - a set of targets for Europe to become ‘a highly energy-efficient, low carbon economy’. The package is binding legislation with three key objectives for the year 2020:

• Greenhouse gas emissions in the EU to be reduced by 20% from 1990 levels. The EU will increase this number to 30% if other major economies commit to bear their fair share of a global emissions reduction effort;
• The share renewable energy resources in our energy consumption to be increased to 20%;
• The EU's energy efficiency to be improved by 20%.

The Clean Energy for All Europeans legislative package adopted by the EU Commission on 30th November 2016 cover energy efficiency, renewable energy, the design of the electricity market, security of electricity supply and governance rules for the Energy Union. In addition, the Commission proposed a new way forward for ecodesign as well as a strategy for connected and automated mobility.

Since the new Commission von der Leyen took office end 2019 a number of new actions took place:

European Green Deal 11 December 2019 : aiming to make Europe climate neutral by 2050 followed by an action plan boosting the economy through green technology, creating sustainable industry and transport, cutting pollution, read more

European Climate Law March 2020, a legislative proposal enshrining the 2050 climate neutrality objective, read more.

European Climate Pact 9 December 2020 to shape a greener Europe inviting people, communities and organisations to participate in climate action, read more

Current key targets 2030 Climate and Energy Framework for the European Union, at least:

• 32 % share for renewable energy
• 32,5 % improvement in energy efficiency
• 40 % cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. However,  The European Commission increased the EU target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % compared to levels in 1990, to be included in the European Climate Law legislative proposal.

Above targets are included in the related Directives, current version 2018, again under review in 2022:

1. The Energy Performance in Buildings Directive was adopted 14th May and published in OJ 19th June 2018, read here 

2. The Renewable Energy Directive - was adopted 11 December 2018 and published 21 December 2018, read here

3. The Energy Efficiency Directive - was adopted 11 December 2018 and published 21 December 2018, read here