EU WIND - UNMASK THE WIND AGENDA

Four CEAW member associations (Vent de Raison/Wind met Redelijkheid in Belgium, Bundesinitiative Vernunftkraft in Germany, Vent de Colère! Fédération nationale and Fédération Environnement Durable in France) submitted a petition to the European Parliament calling for the introduction of legislation to assess and minimise wind turbine acoustic emissions (0482/2021). The petitioners point out that current EU rules do not specifically cover wind turbine noise or related health risks to local residents. The petition is supported by an additional eight associations from other European countries and has been supported by the PETI Committee. It now needs to be taken up in the form of motion(s), resolution(s), and ultimately amendments to the Industrial Emissions Directive or in an annex to the Noise Directive, which requires broad support from MEPs.

EU WIND - UNMASK THE WIND AGENDA

Case T-344/22; Case T-345/22; Case T-346/22; Case T-331/22

In accordance with the Aarhus Convention, the Dutch, Swedish, Belgian, and French associations each submitted requests for internal review of the Commission's decision to approve the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP). This request was rejected by the Commission. Swedish, Dutch, and French associations therefore lodged applications or intervened in their support before the General Court of the EU. They claim that the Commission’s illegally rejected the requests for internal review without verifying the conformity of the NECPs with the Aarhus Convention and the environmental directives. Judgement in the four cases was passed by the European Court on 17 April 2024. The UNECE Aarhus Convention is an integral part of Community law and a decision of non-compliance is a legal breach. However, the Court will only enforce legal failures directly related to administrative acts and dismissed the cases. Compliance proceedings in relation to the adoption of the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) continue to be on-going at UNECE and are supported by other NGOs under the auspices of the European Environmental Bureau (EEB).

EU WIND - UNMASK THE  WIND AGENDA

In accordance with the Aarhus Convention, the German, Belgian and French associations submitted a request for the Commission to carry out an internal review of the wind power chapter of the delegated directive Taxonomy

(EU) 2021/2139 of 4 June 2021. This request was rejected by the Commission.

 The four CEAW member associations (Vent de Colère! Fédération nationale and Fédération Environnement Durable (France), Vent de Raison / Wind met Redelijkheid (Belgium) and Bundesinitiative Vernunftkraft (Germany)) have brought an action before the General of the European Union against this decision. 

 The associations are challenging the refusal to undertake environmental and strategic studies on the impact of wind power on biodiversity, water, and marine resources, the quality of life of local residents, and the consequences of the intermittent nature of wind-generated electricity on its performance with regard to greenhouse gases.

EU WIND - UNMASK THE WIND AGENDA

On 22 December 2022, the Council of the EU adopted a temporary emergency regulation (Regulation 2022/2577) to speed up the construction of renewable energy installations in the Member States inter alia by introducing derogations from Union environmental legislation. Belgian, French, German, Dutch, and Swedish associations applied to the Council of the EU for an internal review of the regulation. This request was rejected on 13 June 2023.

The 7 associations have applied to the General Court of the EU for the annulment of the decision to reject their request for internal review. The grounds for the legal action are in particular the Council's refusal to appropriately review Regulation 2022/2577, and its contradiction of directives on public consultation, the environment, and energy solidarity.