Brussels, 28/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - An assessment of national energy efficiency targets created by the Coalition for Energy Savings shows that member states are proving reluctant to step up their ambitions beyond the minimum efficiency measures required by the energy efficiency directive. This is holding the EU back from reaching its 20% energy savings target by the 2020 deadline.
Target figures available for 18 member states do not reduce the gap to the EU's 20% energy savings target and, if the remaining nine country targets are of similar ambition, the EU would only realise 17% energy savings, falling short of the target of 62 million Mtoe (million tonnes of oil equivalent), it was indicated on Tuesday 28 May by the Coalition for Energy Savings, a pressure group made up of businesses, local authorities, trade unions and civil society representatives.
A ranking of the 18 available targets compared to the most recent energy projections show that Slovakia, Belgium, Ireland, Greece and Italy lead the field with targets that require significant additional energy savings. The least ambitious countries are Estonia, Finland, Malta, Romania and Portugal, who reported targets that increase the gap. The largest countries, Germany, France and the UK, set minimal targets that are likely to be achieved anyway by the measures under the energy efficiency directive, like the annual 1.5% energy end-use saving obligation.
“However, large member states are not showing leadership and the EU target is not in reach - signs that the voluntary approach to targets has failed”, the coalition deplores in a press release. “Rapid repair will be necessary to avoid damaging the EU's commitment to its biggest energy resource - energy savings”, it states.
Member states were supposed to submit their national targets to the European Commission by 30 April, the first deadline under the energy efficiency directive. The coalition, which explains that it had obtained information through national reform programme reports, deplores, moreover, the lack of transparency in setting these targets, which, they say, excludes stakeholders from what should be an open and inclusive process. Also, the coalition published an online guide to help effective and ambitious implementation of the energy efficiency directive. (EH/transl.jl)