European Union joins IRENA
Newsletter
The European Union (EU) Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs together with the Swedish Secretary of State Ola Alterå have signed today the Statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The EU is the 138th member of IRENA and the first inter-governmental organization to join the Agency.
Hélène Pelosse, Interim Director-General of IRENA: “With their decision to produce 20% renewable energy by 2020, EU Member States have set themselves an ambitious target. IRENA has been founded to advise and support countries worldwide that pledged to advance renewables in their own national policies and programs. IRENA will assist EU member states in reaching their national targets.”
Commissioner Piebalgs said that by joining IRENA, the European Union has shown that the promotion of renewable energy sources worldwide is a key element of its external energy policy.
“With less than a month before the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen, this underlines that the EU collectively supports a shift away from fossil fuels and towards renewable technologies” he stressed at the signing ceremony. Piebalgs underlines: “Making this shift today rather than later benefits us in terms of the climate, security of supply and also the economy."
Commissioner Piebalgs said that by joining IRENA, the European Union has shown that the promotion of renewable energy sources worldwide is a key element of its external energy policy.
“With less than a month before the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen, this underlines that the EU collectively supports a shift away from fossil fuels and towards renewable technologies” he stressed at the signing ceremony. Piebalgs underlines: “Making this shift today rather than later benefits us in terms of the climate, security of supply and also the economy."
