Before the 2009 version of the Directive, EU leaders had already reached agreement in March 2007 that, in principle, 20% of the bloc's final energy consumption should be produced from renewable energy sources by 2020 as part of its drive to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

Members states were obliged to notify the European Commission by 30 June 2010 of a National Renewable Energy Action Plan which sets out the road map of the trajectory.

A June 2015 report from the European Commission shows that EU countries are on track to meet the aggregate 20% goal.

Article 7 defines gross final consumption as based on electricity, heating and colling, transport.

Annex I set out the Member State 2020 targets for renewable energy (but these are no longer in force, and Annex V defines how biofuel use should be calculated for the purpose of fulfilling renewable energy quotas.