Brussels, 01/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - Ahead of the European Council on 17 June, the Energy Council meeting in Brussels on 31 May held an exchange of views on the approach to be followed concerning national energy efficiency targets and noted the results of the preliminary bilateral discussions between the Commission and member states presented by European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger.
Defining the objectives of energy policy within the framework of EU2020 strategy, the European Council in March took up the “20-20-20” objectives of the energy/climate package until 2020, including that of saving 20% of energy consumed in the EU. When it comes to energy efficiency, the common target fixed to guide action by EU member states must be completed by one (or several) national indicative targets adjusted to the needs and specific situation of each member state. The Commission is called upon to verify consistency of national objectives with the Community 20% target, on the basis of a common approach, the aim of this exercise being to draw up a clear, overall picture of national measures already adopted or planned to achieve the indicative 20% energy savings target by 2020, in order to establish a method for defining national objectives and comparing them with the overall Community target.
On Monday, most ministers called for national indicative targets which reflect the various needs and specific situations of the different member states, to ensure that member states choose the most appropriate means of calculation, all the more as several of them have already drawn up plans and are already implementing measures for achieving the 20% objective. During bilateral discussions between the Commission and member states, the method for calculating national objectives was the main stumbling block. The Commission called for calculation to be carried out on the basis of primary energy savings derived from primary energy consumption, which includes energy generation and transport, while several member states are in favour of calculation on the basis of final energy savings, derived from final energy consumption, which is the amount consumed by end users. The Commission has promised a study on the best way to set national energy efficiency targets. The Presidency will report on this at the General Affairs Council in preparation for the European Council in June.