Trio of EU Nations Push for New 2040 Renewable Energy Target

Spain, Portugal, and Luxembourg are calling on the European Union to establish dedicated renewable energy targets for 2040. The three nations argue that accelerating the transition to clean energy is essential to reduce Europe’s vulnerability to geopolitical conflicts and its dependence on imported fossil fuels.

In a letter to EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, the energy ministers of the three countries highlighted recent disruptions, such as the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, as urgent reasons to phase out fossil fuel reliance. They emphasized that a clear 2040 target is necessary to provide strong guidance for investors and markets.

Currently, the EU has a binding target to source 42.5% of its energy from renewables by 2030, on its path to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. In 2025, renewable sources accounted for 26.2% of the bloc’s energy consumption. While the EU has established a legally binding goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, it has not yet set a specific renewable energy share target for that year.

This joint appeal aligns with recent