Nieuw akkoord voor energie efficiëntie richtlijnen (en)
The Danish Presidency today received the EU Member States' endorsement of the compromise on the Energy Efficiency Directive, which was reached with the European Parliament in the negotiations last night. Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Buildings, Martin Lidegaard, will present the final compromise text to his ministerial colleagues at the Energy Council meeting on 15 June.
"During the last few months enough political momentum has been built up for the EU Member States to lift the level of ambition of the Directive in the final negotiations. Just a few months ago the European Parliament and the Council were so far apart that it was almost utopian to believe in an agreement. But now we have taken another big step towards a more sustainable energy future, " says Martin Lidegaard.
The Directive will ensure more than 17 pct. improved energy efficiency in 2020. Since it is a minimum directive, the implementation in the coming years can bring us even closer to the goal that EU should be 20 pct. more energy efficient by 2020.
The main core of the directive is the obligation on energy companies that they must help their customers save energy. This requirement means that the industry and the energy sector will have a shared responsibility to deliver concrete savings through e.g. building insulation and using energy efficient appliances.
The Directive also requires the public sector to take the lead in the form of requirements for the renovation of state buildings and the promotion of green public procurement.
The Directive also promotes energy efficiency in the energy production where particularly co-generation and district heating is encouraged.
The EU Commission estimates that the directive will save the EU billions of euros of imported energy and at the same time create hundreds of thousands of jobs.
"I would like to thank the European Parliament and the Member States for exercising flexibility and the Commission for providing good solutions in the whole negotiation process. It has been absolutely necessary to achieve an ambitious outcome that will create growth and employment in Europe," says Martin Lidegaard.
It is necessary that the EU reduces its energy consumption significantly. Otherwise it becomes too expensive for the EU to achieve the goal of 80-90 pct. CO2 reductions by 2050.