The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) welcomes the decision reached by EU Heads of State to adopt a binding 20% target for renewables by 2020.

At the same time, EWEA calls on the Union to ensure legal stability for renewable electricity in the EU until an improved legal framework is in place. This decision is only the beginning of a legislative process that could deliver significant results if designed and implemented successfully. A suitable legal framework now needs to be rapidly adopted in order to reach the 20% target, along with clear guidelines to market participants for the future direction of renewable electricity in Europe.

In addition, to ensure that the internal market functions well in the future, fair grid access for new entrants is a prerequisite. This can only happen if transmission and production activities are effectively separated in terms of ownership. It is unfortunate that the Heads of State displayed a lack of commitment to real competition in electricity, by rejecting the European Commission's proposal for full ownership unbundling of production and transmission activities in the electricity sector.