EU warns six members over renewable energy plans

DPA

BRUSSELS - The European Union Thursday warned Poland, Estonia, Belgium, Latvia, Hungary and Slovakia of legal action after they failed to draw up plans to boost their use of renewable energy.

To fight global warming, the EU has pledged to boost its use of non-polluting renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, to 20 percent of total energy used by 2020. Within that overall target, each member state has its own legally-binding national goal.

All 27 EU states were meant to put forward detailed plans on how they intend to hit their targets by June 30, but the six members in question have not done so, European Commission energy spokeswoman Marlene Holzner told journalists in Brussels.

The commission has therefore sent them a written warning, the first step in a process which could lead to legal action, she said.

The national targets are based on each country\’s use of renewable energy in 2005. Poland\’s target is a 15-percent share of renewable energy by 2020. The target for Belgium and Hungary is 13 percent, Slovakia 14 percent, Estonia 25 percent and Latvia 40