At the meeting of energy ministers on Monday 26 June, the coalition of ambitious countries, led by Germany, France and Sweden, elected to make some concessions and accept a much watered down Council general approach on a revised draft directive on energy efficiency so as not to waste time and to have a text the level of ambition of which they will seek to raise during discussions under Estonian Presidency with the European Parliament and the Commission, both of which are also very ambitious.
Accepting “a compromise that is not ideal”, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark and Portugal annexed a political statement to the general approach taking note of the agreement reached by qualified majority on Monday and stating their will to continue to work to raise the level of ambition of the text, a diplomatic source told us on Tuesday. “We will work with the European Parliament and the Commission which will be more ambitious”, the source said.
While the United Kingdom, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia and Romania did not back an already weakened final compromise text, with some calling for indicative targets and/or additional flexibility, the most progressive countries on this issue – Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden and Ireland, and to a lesser extent Luxembourg and Italy – agreed to a watered down text.
The Council general approach no longer makes any mention of a binding objective of 30% additional energy efficiency in the EU by 2030 but talks merely of an overall 30% target. In addition, it provides flexibility – sought by Italy – on the compulsory annual 1.5% energy savings target, which may now be reduced to 1% for the period from 2026-2030 unless the mid-term review in 2024 concludes that the EU is not on track to achieve its objectives.
“This position does not match the level of ambition of the Commission. We will fight for our proposal”, warned Energy and Climate Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete.
“The Council has come to a decision on minimum targets by 2030. The 30% binding target is the lowest that will allow the EU to retain credibility on implementing the Paris international climate agreement”, regretted MEP Claude Turmes (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg).
“The cop-outs in Article 7 do not correspond to the proclaimed ambition and will harm energy efficiency performance despite the laudable efforts of the French, German and Luxembourg governments. Parliament has several times restated its backing for a binding target of at least 40% and an Article 7 that can deliver on the challenges that will allow us to meet our climate commitments and generate jobs and growth in energy-related services”, he added.
“Despite the political mobilisation of a group of engaged energy ministers, the Energy Council failed to overcome the reluctance from some member states to commit to meaningful energy efficiency targets and measures. The common approach agreed today introduces complicated arrangements and could halve the annual energy saving requirement after 2020”, lamented the Coalition for Energy Savings which brings together renovation and insulation industry associations and environmental groups and NGOs.
The Energy Council has begun to weaken the text, “taking a step backwards both for the climate and the green economy”, regretted environmental NGO WWF. “The EU’s ‘Clean Energy for all Europeans’ package has limped off the starting blocks and stumbled at the first hurdle. It should have been a no-brainer to support strong energy efficiency measures given the economic, climate and social benefits of doing so, and the ambition required by the Paris Agreement. Despite this, member states have rushed to appease the lowest common denominator to reach a quick but bad deal, rather than putting in more time to try and get a better deal”, said Imke Lübbeke, head of climate and energy at WWF European Policy Office. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)