The Council conclusions on renewable energy adopted on 3 December set out a set of priorities among which included the internal electricity market opening, a better market integration of renewable energy sources, more cooperation and trade between member states, and the adoption of the energy infrastructure package as soon as possible.

The Council adopted its conclusions on renewable energy recalling the renewable energy objective of achieving a binding target of a 20% of renewable energies in overall EU energy consumption by 2020, set by the European Council in 2007, is one of the headline targets in the Europe 2020 strategy for jobs and growth.

The conclusions set out lines for future action on which to base further work in support of renewables, notably in the internal electricity market opening, better market integration of renewable energy, cooperation and trade, infrastructure and consumers, technology innovation and sustainability, and next steps as regards, inter alia, future deliberations towards a post-2020 renewables policy framework. In November 2012, the European Commission already called on member states for more cooperation to complete the internal energy market.

Following these conclusions, the Council invited the Commission to present in appropriate time and after thorough analysis, discussion and the review by 2014 of certain aspects of the current Renewable Energy Directive as foreseen therein, a solid and effective EU post-2020 renewable energy sources framework embedded in the broader context of and contributing to the long-term overall EU policy framework.