Brussels, 30/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 29 April, the European Commission sent reasoned opinions to Austria, Croatia, Ireland, Latvia and Romania, asking them to ensure full transposition into their domestic laws of Directive 2012/27/EC on energy efficiency.
This text, which should have been fully incorporated into national law by 5 June 2014, requires member states to achieve energy savings over the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020. To do this, they have to use energy efficiency obligation schemes and/or other targeted policy measures to drive energy efficiency improvements in households, industry and transport.
Should any of the five countries above fail to meet their obligation within two months, the Commission may decide to refer them to the Court of Justice and to seek financial penalties.
The Commission launched infringement proceedings in the second half of 2014 against all the member states, with the notable exception of Malta, for failure fully to transpose the energy efficiency directive within the set timescale. Reasoned opinions were sent to Bulgaria and Hungary in November 2014, then to Greece and Portugal in February 2015. In March, the Commission decided to refer Hungary to the Court of Justice. (Emmanuel Hagry)