The European Commission said Croatia needs to draft detailed and quantified policies to meet its target for 36.4% renewable energy share by 2030 and to commit to a more ambitious goal for reducing final and primary energy consumption in order to contribute to the bloc's 2030 renewable energy target.
Additionally, Croatia should define forward-looking objectives and measurable targets concerning market integration, and develop liquid and competitive wholesale and retail markets, the Commission said on Tuesday in its recommendations on the draft integrated National Energy and Climate Plan of Croatia covering the period 2021-2030.
The EC advised Croatia to elaborate national objectives and funding targets in the field of research, competitiveness and innovation, related to the Energy Union, which should be achieved by 2030.
"Continue regional cooperation efforts on the national energy and climate plan in the context of the Central and South-Eastern Europe Energy Connectivity (CESEC) High-Level Group," the EC also said.
The country was further advised to explore the cross-border potential and macro-regional aspects of the Adriatic coordinated energy and climate policy, in order to reduce carbon footprint and implement an ecosystem approach.
Furthermore, the EC called on Croatia to extend its analysis of investment costs and sources, by introducing appropriate financing at national, regional and Union level. "List all energy subsidies, including in particular fossil fuels subsidies, and actions undertaken as well as plans to phase them out", it added.
The Commission also recommended that Croatia provide more quantitative information when it came to air quality and air emissions policies, as well as the social, employment and skills impacts of planned objectives, and policies and measures.
"Further develop the approach to addressing energy poverty issues, including by providing an assessment of the number and type of households in energy poverty to allow assessing the need for an indicative objective for reducing energy poverty," the Commission also said.
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