On Thursday 14 June, in Strasbourg, the fourth session of trialogue talks on the revised “energy efficiency” directive stalled as the European Parliament and the Council of the EU were unable to reach agreement on a compromise regarding the target for greater energy efficiency by 2030.
According to information available to us, the Council was only able to concede a 32% target together with additional flexibility to Parliament, which is calling for a binding objective of 35% energy efficiency by 2030. This was despite flexibilities provided by Parliament on exemptions and the share of the transport sector to be included.
The Council also refused to go beyond a rate of 0.80% for annual growth in energy efficiency for end-users, as set out in Article 7.
“Parliament has already shown proof of flexibility and resolve to find a compromise”, stated Parliament Rapporteur Miroslav Poche (S&D, Czech Republic) before yesterday’s discussion session.
“The Bulgarian presidency did not have the necessary wriggle room because of a large member state”, one European source confided, pointing at Germany but without naming the country.
“No deal today on energy efficiency. Getting close, not there yet. I call on the Parliament and the Council to be flexible and seek compromise. That’s the only way for Europe to forge ahead with an ambitious clean energy transition”, commented Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Energy and Climate Action.
According to information available, the Parliament and Council’s positions were not in fact too far apart, since Parliament was ready to agree to an overall target of 33% and a level of ambition of 0.85% in effective savings for end-users, as well as a review clause on raising the target for 2023.
It remains to be seen whether the Bulgarian presidency will seek to push through an agreement before its mandate comes to an end on 30 June, and it hands the matter over to the Austrian presidency.
The results of the talks on 13 June will be presented to the ambassadors of member states (Coreper) on “20 June”, a Bulgarian source told us.
Although the balance of power has changed in Council since Spain and Italy announced, on 11 June, that they backed the more ambitious targets for renewables and energy efficiency (see EUROPE 12038), the Bulgarian presidency must deal with the United Kingdom and the countries that are most conservative when it comes to environmental matters – Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia – as this blocks progress, deplores the European Environmental Bureau (EEB). (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)