Brussels, 11/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament is ratifying its agreement sown up in June with the Council on the energy efficiency directive. Through binding measures on energy savings, such as the renovation of public buildings, energy-saving programmes for public services, and energy audits for large companies, the text adopted aims to help the EU attain its goal of 20% energy savings by 2020, thus making savings of nearly €50 billion annually.
In Strasbourg on Tuesday 11 September, the Parliament adopted the energy efficiency directive by 632 votes in favour, 25 against and 19 abstentions. The directive will allow the EU to achieve its indicative objective of 20% energy savings by the end of the decade, while current measures allow only a little under 10% savings to be made. Headed by its rapporteur, Claude Turmes (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg), the energy committee had sealed a compromise with the Council in mid-June on the text due to replace the two current directives on energy services and cogeneration (see EUROPE 10635).
The directive compels member states to develop three year plans (2014, 2017 and 2020) for energy efficiency according to one and the same binding model, in order to reach the 20% target. The Commission will take stock, in 2014, on progress made and propose other measures, if the EU comes off track, including binding national objectives. In the context of those plans, member states must establish long term roadmaps for the renovation of buildings. In the short term, the 3% rate of annual renovation of public buildings is strictly limited to the buildings of the central national authorities. Public authorities should also set an example with regard to public procurement by buying greener goods and services, with the article of the text on this being reviewed in 2015. Finally, member states should assess the potential of cogeneration on their territory by the end of 2015.
The directive also makes it an obligation for energy distributors and suppliers to deliver 1.5% in annual savings across all end-use sectors, although this has been watered down by EU governments obtaining numerous exemptions on the measure limited to 25% of energy savings. The provision, however, will be reviewed in 2016. This is the key measure of the directive, as it represents between 65 and 75% of its energy saving potential.
Energy audits should be carried out in large companies. Audits will begin within three years after the directive takes effect and be carried out every four years by qualified and certified auditors. Small and medium-sized enterprises would not have to meet this requirement.
The directive provides special provisions with a view to setting funding mechanisms in place for energy efficiency measures. Member states must facilitate their establishment or use existing mechanisms.
The directive will take effect 20 days after publication in the EU Official Journal. Member states have 18 months in which to transpose the new legislation into their national body of law.
Unanimous support for a crucial text. MEPs from every political group immediately hailed adoption of a crucial legislative text not only for attaining the EU's climate objectives but also for its energy supply security. Turmes called for the text to be swiftly implemented and for energy policy to be reoriented to maximise the benefits of the new rules, including mobilising European funds, Structural Funds, project bonds and EIB funds in favour of energy saving programmes and training, especially for the young, in order to foster the know-how needed in the sector and to combat unemployment. The Greens also pointed out that the new directive will make it possible to rein in the growing costs of EU dependency on energy imports, which reached €488 billion in 2011 (nearly 4% of the EU's GDP). The future legislation will also provide an answer to the current economic crisis, by stimulating the creation of millions of jobs. Implementation of the text, however, should be accompanied by an industrial policy for supporting renewable energies, French ecologist Yannick Jadot stresses.
Socialists and Democrats (S&D) welcome the agreement “as the best solution possible given the weak commitment of many member states represented in the Council”. Britta Thomsen of Denmark above all regrets that the text restricts the renovation of public buildings to the buildings of central governments only.
Speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), Fiona Hall of Britain urges the Commission to put forward additional measures this autumn as, according to the Commission's own calculations, the energy efficiency directive combined with other proposed new measures on boilers and vehicles - yet to be agreed - will only achieve a 17% energy consumption reduction.
Not far from the Council's position, the EPP Group welcomes, through Markus Pieper of Germany, a text that will allow “more flexibility for member states” with budgets hampered by deficits. (EH/transl.jl)