RES in EU and Candidate Countries

During the project a high-level promotion and market penetration strategy for Renewable Energy Sources both within the European Union as well as in the new Member States was developed, thereby contributing to the uptake of renewable energy sources in the enlarged European Union (EU-25).

This is considered to be important in view of reaching the target of doubling the percentage of renewable energy sources within the European Union from 6 to 12 % until 2010 which the European Commission’s communication “Energy for the future: Renewable Sources of Energy – a White Paper for a Community Strategy and Action Plan” (COM(97)599 final) sets.

To prepare the enlargement of the European Union, special actions had to be taken in order to assist the Accession States in fostering the uptake of renewable energy sources and help them prepare for their adhesion to the European Union.