EU Leaders Approve Higher Climate Target and New Competitiveness Plan

European Union leaders gathered in Brussels and adopted a package of measures aimed at strengthening the bloc’s climate and energy policies while boosting economic competitiveness. The EU agreed to raise its 2030 greenhouse‑gas reduction target from 55 % to 60 % versus 1990 levels and approved a framework to diversify energy supplies, expand wind and solar capacity and improve cross‑border electricity grids to reduce reliance on Russian fuels.

At the same summit the Council called for faster progress on the “One Europe, One Market” agenda, pressing for simpler rules, lower energy prices and industrial renewal. A key element is the commitment to present a concrete revision of the EU Emissions Trading System by mid‑July 2026, including adjustments to free allowances and benchmarks, while preserving the system’s role in the green transition. Leaders vowed to revisit competitiveness issues in October 2026, linking climate action to industrial survival and the EU’s broader security and fiscal priorities.