The European Union needs an ambitious emissions-reduction goal, targets for energy-efficiency and renewables as well as tools to foster investment under its planned 2030 policies, an advisory panel to 14 ministers said. Eu leaders need to agree on the framework for the next decade by October, sticking to the deadline agreed earlier this year, the panel said in its report. The panel includes experts from the International Energy Agency, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. A decision by the 28-nations bloc's head of state and government on the 2030 strategy requires unanimity. "We need to create a low - carbon energy union becouse it offers huge opportunities for investing in the current energy system, replenishing the grid and bringing growth and jobs to Europe", said Sandrine Dixon-Decleve, Director of the Brusseles Office for the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership, who participated in the panel's discussions.