EC urges Bulgaria to strengthen renewable energy ambitions

The European Commission said that is has called on Bulgaria to step up its renewable energy ambitions and bring its 2021-2030 integrated national energy and climate plan in accordance with EU legislation and the Paris Agreement.

Bulgaria fails to address EU's targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency as well as the level of electricity interconnectivity that the member state aims for by the end of 2030, the Commission said in recommendations on Bulgaria's plan published on Tuesday.

The Commission's assessment of Bulgaria’s objectives, targets and contributions shows that the country's 2030 target for greenhouse emissions is -0% compared to 2005, as set in the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR), while national contribution for renewable energy stands below the target, at 25%. Contribution for energy efficiency is found to be of low ambition as well.

The recommendations, which are based on the assessment, include increasing Bulgaria's level of ambition for 2030 to a renewable share of at least 27%, reducing both primary and final energy consumption and supporting it with adequate policies and measures that would deliver additional energy savings as well as intensifying regional cooperation with neighbouring member states in efficiency and research of renewable energy sources.

"While some parts are more developed than others, the draft overall is a good basis for further developing objectives and corresponding adequate policies and measures across all dimensions. Policy interactions are not yet sufficiently analysed to allow related opportunities for economic modernisation and job creation to be well exploited", the Commission concluded.

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