Only four countries have submitted plans for 2030
Four of the 27 EU countries have submitted concrete plans to the European Commission on how they intend to achieve the EU climate goals for 2030: Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and Sweden. A Commission spokesperson urged the other member states to present their plans "as soon as possible," as a deadline at the end of June had passed. Germany has so far only submitted a draft.
The 27 EU countries must present an updated energy and climate plan outlining how they plan to meet the EU targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding renewable energies, and ensuring energy security by 2030. According to the EU Commission's assessment, the plans of the majority of member states fall short, including the November proposal from the German government.
Germany is making good progress in expanding renewable energies, but the Commission criticized outdated data on greenhouse gas emissions and a lack of plans to expand gas supply. Germany was also not adequately prepared for potential climate risks such as floods and heat waves.
Austria is the only member state that has not yet submitted even a draft, leading to an EU treaty violation procedure against the Viennese government. With the now expired deadline, such a procedure could also be initiated against Germany. "Wherever it is necessary and appropriate, we of course have legal instruments," a Commission spokesperson stated.
The EU climate targets for 2030 seem to be a challenge for many countries, as only four out of the 27 have submitted concrete plans. The majority of EU member states, including Germany, need to present their plans to meet these targets shortly.
