Brussels, 19/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 17 October, the European Commission initiated infringement proceedings against 12 member states (Belgium, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden) for failing to submit their national energy efficiency action plans by 30 June, as required by directive 2006/32/EC on end-use energy efficiency and energy services. The actions plans should present national strategies on how to achieve a 9% energy savings target by the end of 2016, as well as how member states comply with a number of other provisions of the directive. (E.H.)