L 140/16 Official Journal of the European Union 5.6.2009 DIRECTIVES DIRECTIVE 2009/28/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EURO- PEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Article 175(1) thereof, and Article 95 thereof in relation to Articles 17, 18 and 19 of this Directive, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (2), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (?), Whereas: (1) The control of European energy consumption and the increased use of energy from renewable sources, together with energy savings and increased energy efficiency, con- stitute important parts of the package of measures needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and comply with the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Conven- tion on Climate Change, and with further Community and international greenhouse gas emission reduction commit- ments beyond 2012. Those factors also have an important part to play in promoting the security of energy supply, promoting technological development and innovation and providing opportunities for employment and regional development, especially in rural and isolated areas. (2)  In particular, increasing technological improvements, incentives for the use and expansion of public transport, the use of energy efficiency technologies and the use of energy from renewable sources in transport are some of the most effective tools by which the Community can (*) Opinion of 17 September 2008 (O] C 77, 31.3.2009, p. 43). (2) O] C 325, 19.12.2008, p. 12. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 17 December 2008 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 6 April 2009. reduce its dependence on imported oil in the transport sec- tor, in which the security of energy supply problem is most acute, and influence the fuel market for transport. The opportunities for establishing economic growth through innovation and a sustainable competitive energy policy have been recognised. Production of energy from renewable sources often depends on local or regional small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The opportunities for growth and employment that investment in regional and local production of energy from renewable sources bring about in the Member States and their regions are important. The Commission and the Member States should therefore support national and regional development mea- sures in those areas, encourage the exchange of best prac- tices in production of energy from renewable sources between local and regional development initiatives and promote the use of structural funding in this area. When favouring the development of the market for renew- able energy sources, it is necessary to take into account the positive impact on regional and local development oppor- tunities, export prospects, social cohesion and employ- ment opportunities, in particular as concerns SMEs and independent energy producers. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the Community and reduce its dependence on energy imports, the development of energy from renewable sources should be closely linked to increased energy efficiency. It is appropriate to support the demonstration and com- mercialisation phase of decentralised renewable energy technologies. The move towards decentralised energy pro- duction has many benefits, including the utilisation of local energy sources, increased local security of energy supply, shorter transport distances and reduced energy transmis- sion losses. Such decentralisation also fosters community development and cohesion by providing income sources and creating jobs locally.