The European Council today adopted its Climate and Energy Package for 2030 and has chosen to go for a 27% indicative Energy Efficiency Target.
It is a dismal agreement that falls short of the Commission’s unambitious proposal, which was made in July. EuroACE member companies have systematically called for a binding 40% Energy Efficiency Target as this is the proven cost-effective potential for the EU. EuroACE is also convinced that renovating our wasteful, leaky buildings is a key part of our effort on climate and energy policy and it offers the best solution to Europe’s energy crisis. Companies in the sector have called for clear policies and long-term targets in order to provide market certainty for investments.
The decision of the Heads of State simply does not deliver. “This is not good enough!” said Adrian Joyce, Secretary General of EuroACE “Despite the numerous studies demonstrating the cost-effective potential of a higher energy efficiency target, the 28 Heads of State shied away from setting a strong Energy Efficiency target. A strong target could have unleashed investment in hard-hit sectors like construction and delivered multiple benefits through reduced energy dependence, a boost to public finances and improved health for EU citizens”.
The Council conclusions indicate that the Commission will propose ‘priority sectors in which significant energy efficiency gains can be reaped and ways to address them’. Swallowing a high of 40% of all energy consumed in the EU, buildings should feature as the top priority sector to be addressed in upcoming legislation revision, namely with Energy Efficiency Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. Buildings play a major role in the EU’s energy dependence and high import costs. A major renovation programme, amounting only to a quarter of what Member States currently spent on energy imports (EU Members States collectively spend €1.1bn every day on energy imports), could put Member States on the right track to reduce the energy demand of the building stock in the EU by 80% by 2050.
You may download the press release EuroACE PR Council 2030, in Greek and in English.