Europe’s next energy target is becoming a debate over what should count as clean energy. Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg are calling on the European Commission to establish a dedicated, binding renewable-energy target for 2040, arguing that the bloc’s existing goal of cutting net greenhouse-gas emissions by 90% does not provide the same investment signal for renewable power. Their position puts them at odds with countries that want a broader clean-energy target that would also include nuclear power.
The three countries have asked for a numerical target specifically covering renewables such as wind and solar. They argue that a separate target would give investors greater certainty, accelerate renewable deployment and reduce Europe’s dependence on imported fossil fuels. They are also calling for a framework that remains flexible enough to reflect different national circumstances, given the very different energy resources and generation mixes across EU member states.
The dispute comes as the EU prepares its post-2030 renewable-energy framework. The bloc already has a binding target of at least 42.5% renewables in final energy consumption by 2030, with an ambition to reach 45%. For 2040, however, the headline binding objective is currently the 90% net greenhouse-gas reduction target compared with 1990 levels, leaving a political question over how specifically the energy system should be directed toward achieving it.
That question has brought nuclear power into the centre of the debate. France, Poland, Czechia, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Hungary are among the countries supporting a broader clean-energy approach that would allow nuclear power to count alongside renewables. Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg instead want renewables measured separately, creating a clearer distinction between the technologies being used to decarbonise Europe’s electricity and energy system.
Read Also: Why Egypt Is Linking Its Wind Boom to a Turbine Manufacturing Industry
The outcome will matter beyond the wording of an EU target. A renewables-specific target could strengthen the investment case for additional wind, solar and supporting infrastructure, while a technology-neutral clean-energy target would give member states more flexibility over the combination of nuclear and renewable generation. With the European Commission expected to present its post-2030 renewable framework before the end of 2026, the debate is ultimately about how Europe wants its energy system to be built over the next decade and which technologies receive the clearest policy signal.
