A new report by SolarPower Europe warns that most EU Member States are still falling short of fully implementing key permitting rules essential to accelerating the energy transition. More than a year after the deadline for national adoption of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), the average level of legal transposition of these measures remains just under 50%.

The analysis, which assesses 20 EU countries, reveals a stark contrast in performance. Italy, Romania and Slovenia lead with a 78% transposition rate, while Latvia ranks lowest at just 13%. France, Croatia, the Netherlands and Slovakia also fall behind with only 22% of the relevant measures integrated into national law. 

“The EU’s permitting framework is fit for purpose. What we need now is clear guidance and support to ensure Member States implement acceleration zones and the overriding public interest principle effectively,” said Lina Dubina, Policy Advisor at SolarPower Europe.

Permitting bottlenecks threaten EU’s 2030 green targets

The RED III directive, which came into force in November 2023, sets a legally binding target of 42.5% renewable energy by 2030. Central to achieving this is the simplification of permitting procedures for solar and other clean energy projects. Yet in practice, the process remains slow and burdensome. In several European countries, permitting delays still exceed two years – and in some cases stretch to four – double the maximum timeframe allowed under RED III.

The report identifies several ongoing challenges:

• Permitting deadlines are not being met, risking non-compliance with EU law.

• Acceleration zones are poorly implemented, often adding complexity or creating no-go areas.

• Simplified rules for solar on artificial surfaces are frequently ignored.

• The overriding public interest principle is rarely applied to solar PV projects.

“Policymakers expect rapid renewables deployment, yet permitting remains a key bottleneck. Even where laws are in place, they often don’t work in practice,” stated Dries Acke, Deputy CEO of SolarPower Europe.

SolarPower Europe’s recommendations to the commission

To address the issues identified, SolarPower Europe urges the European Commission to:

• Prioritise implementation over new deregulation.

• Provide targeted funding and training for regional and local permitting authorities.

• Support Member States in setting regional renewable energy targets.

• Help harmonise fast-track permitting processes across countries.

• Promote clear, public guidance on the overriding public interest principle (IROPI).

• Encourage knowledge-sharing and best practices between Member States.

• Streamline permitting for innovative solar and hybrid renewable energy projects.

Solar growth continues, but faces barriers

Despite the challenges, solar power continues to grow. The EU added 65.5 GW of new solar capacity in 2024 — a 4% increase from 2023. However, growth is slowing, and future projections range between 3% and 7% annually. Without resolving the permitting delays, the EU risks falling short of its 2030 climate and energy goals.

The report includes case studies that highlight both best-in-class and poor examples of RED III implementation across the EU. Ultimately, the findings call for more than legislative ambition — what’s needed now is concrete progress on the ground.