According to an internal email seen by Reuters, France and other countries opposed new EU renewable energy objectives last week, delaying a vote in the European Parliament.
Tuesday was the Parliament’s energy committee vote. Unfortunately, the email postponed the vote until June without a date.
The EU is trying to pass a regulation requiring it to get 42.5% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030.
The bill has seen late opposition. After France and others opposed the law, EU diplomats postponed their ratification last week.
On Tuesday, Parliament was scheduled to vote, followed by a final vote in July. However, the EU assembly’s summer holiday might delay policy ratification until September.
After reaching a compromise earlier this year, the EU Parliament and EU countries were expected to approve the law.
France was dissatisfied. Paris believes the law discriminates against hydrogen from nuclear power by not letting countries count it toward renewable fuel targets for industry.
Bulgaria, Romania, and Poland were also dissatisfied with the rules because they thought the aims were too ambitious.
Sweden, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, said negotiations were starting.
After a “surprise” hold-up of one of the bloc’s primary climate change measures, other countries are impatient.
“Frustration is intense. “France always wants more,” one EU diplomat remarked.
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