Member States' national authorities are not directing EU funds for improving the energy efficiency of buildings towards projects with the greatest potential for energy savings, according to a new report by the European Court of Auditors, published on Tuesday 28 April.
For example, despite better spending guidance from the European Commission, EU-funded projects “still do not focus on achieving the greatest potential energy savings per every euro invested”, the auditors regret.
Examining EU-funded programmes in five Member States (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy and Lithuania), the report points out that in most cases, national authorities allocate grants to projects on the basis of the “first come, first served” basis, without comparing their relative costs and benefits.
In addition, most subsidise projects in their entirety, regardless of the expected energy savings, rather than encouraging major renovations, for example by increasing the rate of assistance for such work. Some projects have received EU funding for simple upgrades (such as the installation of LED light bulbs) that would probably have been carried out without the aid, the auditors point out.
In view of these shortcomings, the auditors make a number of recommendations concerning planning and targeting investments, project selection procedures and the monitoring of progress towards EU energy efficiency targets.
While the European Union had set itself the objective of improving energy efficiency by at least 20% by 2020, the latest data published by Eurostat had highlighted a delay (see EUROPE 12418/10). For 2030, the EU aims to improve energy efficiency by at least 32.5%.
To consult the report: https://bit.ly/2VKc7FE (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)