In preparation for the European energy ministers’ meeting on 27 June, the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union on Monday, 13 June, sent Member States two draft political agreements (‘general approach’): one on the revision of the directive (2018/2002) on energy efficiency (EED) and the other on the revision of the directive (2018/2001) on renewable energy (RED II).
Regarding the EED, the new text contains few changes compared to the Presidency’s last draft compromise, on which we previously reported in detail (see EUROPE 12964/4).
Nevertheless, there are a few changes to report, notably the reintroduction of the derogation from the final energy consumption reduction requirements for Cyprus and Malta.
Whereas the initial text presented by the European Commission envisages an obligation on the part of Member States to reduce their final energy consumption by at least 1.5% per year between 2024 and 2030, the Presidency proposed the following pace: 1.1% per year between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025, 1.3% per year between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2027, and 1.5% per year between 1 January 2028 and 31 December 2030.
The proposed [general] approach maintains this pace for all Member States with the exception of Cyprus and Malta, which are expected to reduce their final energy consumption by “only” 0.45% per year between 2024 and 2030.
Moreover, the text introduces a new provision in the event a Member State exceeds its energy savings target during one of the aforementioned periods.
This Member State would thus be allowed to carry part of this surplus (no more than 10%) into the next obligation period without the target being increased.
For the public sector, Paris is proposing a new derogation for certain buildings.
Thus, until 31 December 2026, the obligation to reduce the total final energy consumption of all public bodies combined by at least 1.7% each year compared to year X-2 (X being the year that the new rules enter into force) would not apply to public bodies in local administrative units serving fewer than 50,000 inhabitants.
This exemption would be extended until 31 December 2029 for public bodies in local administrative units serving fewer than 5,000 inhabitants.
With regard to RED II, the Presidency introduces several new elements. EUROPE will continue to follow this story.
The proposed general approach for each of the two directives will be examined by Member States’ permanent representatives (Coreper) in the course of the afternoon of Friday, 17 June.
See the proposed general approach
on the RED II: https://aeur.eu/f/254 and
on the EED: https://aeur.eu/f/253 (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)