Final stage approaches: Adoption of the Energy Efficiency Directive
The European Parliament approves ambitious revisions to the Energy Efficiency directive, aiming to reduce EU’s energy consumption by 11.7% by 2030, while introducing the energy efficiency first principle and provisions for local energy agencies, prior to submission for final adoption.
Illustration : Photo by Paolo Margari on Unsplash
The European Parliament plenary just green-lighted the recast of the Energy Efficiency directive with an overwhelming majority. The revised text of the directive raises the level of ambition in Europe, by setting a 11.7% target for reducing the EU’s final energy consumption by 2030, compared with projections made in 2020. It also strengthens the objective for end-use energy savings to be achieved by member states each year, by setting increasing percentages: 1.3% in 2024-2025, 1.5% in 2026-2027 and 1.9% in 2028-2030, which almost doubles the current level of ambition.
The revised law also introduces the energy efficiency first (EE1st) principle as a legal requirement and sets and obligation to include energy efficiency measures and measures against energy poverty in long-term regional and local planning.
More importantly, the revised directive sets very good provisions for the local and regional energy agencies including : the need for the public sector to consult energy agencies before the implementation of any energy efficiency measures. Energy agencies are also mentioned as relevant market actors and as prior stakeholders in the development of one-stop shops.
The text will yet be submitted to ministers at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on July 25 for adoption without debate, the last stage before publication in the EU Official Journal.
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