Brussels, 29/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - Fearing that the EU will fail to reach its indicative target of 20% energy savings by 2020, Commissioner Oettinger has called on the member states for a clear commitment in favour of binding energy efficiency targets or instruments.
At the Energy Council of 24 November, Günther Oettinger once again warned the capitals of the risk that the EU will not achieve one of its climate objectives adopted in 2008, that of cutting its energy requirements by 20% by 2020. “We are a long way from the mark in terms of efficiency. If we are all serious about the 20% target, the best way forward would be a binding target and full flexibility on how to meet it”, the commissioner told the European energy ministers when presenting the progress report prepared by the Polish Presidency on the basis of the draft directive put on the table by the European executive on 22 June of this year. This proposal is both based on a number of binding measures - energy companies will have to cut 1.5% of their sales volume by offering their customers efficiency measures and the public sector would have to set an example by purchasing efficient buildings, products and services and by carrying out renovation work every year covering at least 3% of the total building stock - and leaves the member states a large margin of flexibility.
Although he assured the Commission of the capitals' support to his proposal as regards the principles, the report drafted by the Polish Presidency stresses that the governments would favour greater flexibility to apply the most profitable measures, whilst taking account of local specific features and existing legislation, as having to impose models on the public services would cause them greater problems.
The Polish economy minister, Waldemar Pawlak, has promised a new proposed compromise on the initial text of the Commission for mid-December and Denmark, which is highly committed to the dossier, has pledged to continue the debate successfully. A general binding objective and greater flexibility in achieving it, or an indicative general objective and binding instruments to achieve it: the capitals must choose. But Oettinger is determined not to “come out of the exercise empty-handed”. (EH/transl.fl)