Brussels, 23/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - Europe's regions were looking for a more ambitious approach from the European Commission in climate targets for the period up to 2030. A draft recommendation from the Committee of the Regions (CoR) currently going through the adoption process, suggests that the greenhouse gas reduction target should be 50% over the next 15 years (1990 reference year), 10% more than that proposed by the European Commission on Wednesday 22 January (see EUROPE 11002). The fact that the targets are not compulsory is not appreciated by the regional authorities either. Sirpa Hertell (EPP, Finland) , who drafted the recommendation to be approved on 30 January, would have liked structural changes in the European strategy on sustainable, green growth and said that “not setting obligatory targets on energy efficiency is an opportunity missed. We should have learned from the EUROPE 2020 framework: only energy efficiency was not binding and was the only target not reached”. She believes that it is essential that mandatory targets are included in revisions to the energy efficiency directive at the end of the year. (MD/trans.fl)