Brussels, 04/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - The first examination on Thursday 30 September 2010 in the European Parliament's energy committee of the report on energy efficiency by Danish MEP Bendt Bendtsen (EPP) provided an opportunity for the MEPs to discuss the aims of binding energy performance rules.
Bendtsen's draft report urges the European Commission to make a stricter assessment of the member states' energy savings and urges member states to properly implement existing legislation. It suggests that the upcoming revised energy efficiency plan, due to be unveiled by the Commission later this year, should include a pledge to introduce more ambitious measures like binding energy performance requirements, as suggested by the shadow rapporteurs from the ALDE, S&D and Green groups. Danish MEP Britta Thomsen (S&D) said that a 20% target for energy savings by 2020 is both ambitious and realistic but, without any binding targets, no action would be taken. British MEP Fiona Hall (ALDE) agreed that binding targets should be introduced. Polish MEP Konrad Szymanski (CRE) and others felt, however, that binding targets would be counter-productive. They called for a more flexible approach that takes account of the differences among member states. Spanish MEP Alejo Vidal-Quadras (EPP) wants to see proper implementation of existing legislation rather than changing the energy efficiency targets at the present time.
The Bendtsen report will be put to the vote in the EP committee on 26 October 2010 and in plenary the following month. (E.H./transl.fl)