Negotiators from the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Parliament, headed by Miroslav Poche (S&D, Czech Republic), reached political agreement at the trialogue meeting on Tuesday 19 June on the draft revised energy efficiency directive, that was proposed by the Commission in November 2016.
Under the terms of the provisional agreement, the new EU regulatory framework for energy efficiency will contain an overall target of 32.5% energy savings by 2030, with an upwards revision clause by 2023 to take into account significant cost reductions resulting from economic or technological changes.
The overall target is higher than the 30% initially proposed by the European Commission and supported by the Council but falls short of Parliament’s desired 35%.
The annual requirement of 0.8% energy savings by end users has been extended for the 2021-2030 period. This measure is intended to boost renovation of buildings and the use of more efficient technologies for heating and cooling.
The agreement contains provisions that will deliver real energy savings in the next period 2021-2030 and beyond, coming from new energy efficiency renovations or other energy efficiency measures undertaken.
The revised directive strengthens the rules on the way consumers – especially those in multi-apartment buildings with collective heating systems – are informed of their energy consumption.
Member states will have to put in place transparent, publicly available national rules on the allocation of the costs of heating, cooling and hot water consumption in multi-apartment and multi-purpose buildings with collective systems for such services.
There are also provisions to tackle existing market, behavioural and regulatory barriers and address energy poverty.
The provisional agreement must now be approved by the Parliamentary energy committee, and will then be put to a vote in Parliament, probably in October.
After receiving the go-ahead from the Council of Ministers of the EU, the revised directive will be published in the Official Journal of the EU and member states will have 18 months to incorporate it into national law.
“Increased energy efficiency really is a win-win policy for all Europeans. It is a good deal for our citizens, as it will bring about major reductions in energy consumption, thus reducing bills and improving health and well being, helping to fight energy poverty”, said Miroslav Poche, stressing the impact the directive will have on the EU economy by stimulating fresh investment, growth and employment, in particular in the construction sector, and the crucial role it will play in meeting the obligations of the Paris climate agreement.
“Europe is by far the largest importer of fossil fuel in the world. Today we put an end to this. This deal is a major push for Europe's energy independence”, said Energy and Climate Commissioner, Miguel Arias Cañete. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)