Speaking at the first General Assembly of the European Energy Efficiency Financing Coalition on Tuesday 20 May, the European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, explained that legislative efforts in the area of energy efficiency had been significant in recent years, but that there was an urgent need to mobilise more investment (see EUROPE 13515/16).
“It’s a little bit strange, because when we look at how fast energy efficiency investments pay back, if we look at the business cases, at the regulatory framework, it should be a no brainer (to attract investment). Nonetheless, it is not”, he declared.
The coalition, which was launched in 2023 (see EUROPE 13397/25), brings together European institutions, financial players and national governments to make energy efficiency “a pillar of the transition to clean energy and a driver of long-term economic competitiveness”, as the European Commission points out.
This platform is specifically aimed at mobilising more funds to support energy efficiency and the EU’s energy efficiency objectives. For example, the revised regulation on energy efficiency adopted in 2023 sets a target of reducing final energy consumption by 11.7% by 2030 (see EUROPE 13268/29).
At the first General Assembly, the coalition’s mandate and work programme for 2025 were adopted: these focus on increasing investment flows, supporting national hubs, and strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)