As established by the Lisbon Treaty, the European Union succeeds the European Community. It  is therefore required that the EU concludes now the Statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). To that effect, the OJEU of July 13th publishes the Council Decision by which the president of the Council is authorised to designate the person empowered to deposit the instrument of ratification.

The Statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) was signed on behalf of the European Community on 23 November 2009, in accordance with the Decision of the Council of 19 October 2009. As a consequence of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on December 1st 2009, the European Union has replaced and succeeded the European Community, for what reason  it is therefore appropriate for the Union to conclude the Statute.

Although the Statute recognises the European Union’s status as a member of IRENA, as a general rule, the Member States of the European Union have competence for agenda items dealing with organisational matters (e.g. legal or budgetary issues) and procedural issues (e.g. election of chairpersons, adoption of the agenda, adoption of reports).

International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Objectives

The Agency shall promote the widespread and increased adoption and the sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, taking into account:

• National and domestic priorities and benefits derived from a combined approach of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures; and
• The contribution of renewable energy to environmental preservation, through limiting pressure on natural resources and reducing deforestation, particularly tropical deforestation, desertification and biodiversity loss; to climate protection; to economic growth and social cohesion including poverty alleviation and sustainable development; to access to and security of energy supply; to regional development and to inter-generational responsibility.

Besides the objectives of the Agency, the Statute also establishes its main activities, organizational bodies, as well as the organism entitled to be members, which are in general States that are members of the United Nations and regional intergovernmental economic integration organisations willing and able to act in accordance with the objectives and activities laid down in this Statute

Council Decision of 24 June 2010 also establishes that the Union will pay an annual contribution to IRENA foreseen by the Intelligent Energy-Europe (‘IEE’) Programme.