Renewable energy technologies are the future. They are an extremely valuable tool for reducing Europe's dependency on external providers, as well as providing significant growth for employment and innovation.
It is therefore reassuring that the EU is well on track to meet its 2020 target of 20 per cent renewables in the European energy mix. This is partly due to clear investments for business and European funding enabling the technologies and distribution systems.
This progress also means that numerous renewable energy technologies are rapidly becoming cost-competitive for electricity generation against conventional forms of generation.
We see that this is of increasing importance for those energy consumers that mention energy costs as an important factor for competitiveness. That is why it is important to continue efforts to ensure cost-effective rollout of renewables in Europe and keep a clear indication that European funding should be spent where it brings down the final energy costs for consumers.
In this respect, my political group - the EPP - feels strongly that member states are best-placed for assessing the most efficient ways to integrate renewables into their energy mix.
We fully recognise that there is a potential in supporting energy consumers to self-produce as 'prosumers'. I have myself invested in a house that uses both geothermal and solar power as well as heat pump technologies. I know first-hand the benefits it can bring to the individual consumer and
I will continue to defend the need to enable prosumers' access to the energy market on fair terms. To this end, it is important to ensure a balance and consider the need for stability in the system and continued cost-effective solutions for Europe as a whole. We cannot view self-production and decentralisation as the only options for rolling out renewables in the energy system.
For some countries, decentralised production will make sense and the capacity on the networks will allow it. However, for other countries, the investment necessary in distribution and capacity mechanisms will outweigh the potential benefits - making centralised solutions such as hydro or wind farms the most cost-effective way to transition to renewable technologies.
Another pre-requisite for responsible energy transition to renewables is a well-functioning internal energy market in Europe. We still have quite a way to go.
Until we connect southern and northern Europe and western and eastern Europe, we will continue to 'block' European- produced energy in certain parts of Europe, for example the solar power of the Iberian Peninsula and the wind power of the northern seas.
Further progress towards a well-connected European energy union must rely on fair and equal access and open markets for the success of European energy transition.
It is with great satisfaction that we look forward to 2030 and the continued ambitions of the European heads of state and government who set an EU-level target of 27 per cent renewables.
We must acknowledge this important political signal and work towards a strong and competent governance system to fulfil the target.
In the coming autumn, we will receive not only the proposal for a revised renewables directive for the period post 2020, but also important legislative initiatives concerning governance structures and energy market design, which will be imperative to the successful achievement of our European ambitions for climate and energy.
In this respect, we must look into bottom-up strategies to complete the energy union, for example increased macro-regional cooperation such as national network plans and public procurement processes.
I hope that the final renewable energy progress report, scheduled to be voted on 23 June by the Parliament, will be founded on a balanced approach to energy transition initiatives, relying on the required approach to cost-effectiveness, ensuring continued growth, jobs and competitiveness for Europe.