The renewable energies roadmap unveiled earlier this month by the Commission sets a target of 20% for the share of total energy supply to come from renewable sources.

"It is not the first time that targets for renewable energy have been fixed. In 1997, the European Union set the objective of achieving a 12% use of renewable energies by 2010. In 2005 the share of renewable was only about 7%.

"The reason for the lack of adequate progress has been the absence of legally binding obligations. In many Member States, national policies have been inadequate for achieving the renewable target. The progress across the European Union has generally been patchy and highly uneven. Some Member States have adopted ambitious policies, but overall, national policies have proven vulnerable to the whims of changing governments."

-Stavros Dimas, EU Commissioner, January 29, 2007

Do you agree or disagree with Commissioner Dimas's statements about why the European Union has been slow to meet its energy goals? Explain your reasoning and your own ideas about this topic.