The European Parliament approved on Tuesday new rules to increase the energy savings of the member states, with the goal being to collectively save at least 11.7 percent of the quantities used in 2020 by 2030.
Reductions in both primary and final energy consumption should begin in 2025, when savings of 1.3 percent are set to be achieved, and savings will increase each year thereafter to reach 1.9 percent by 2020.
A robust monitoring and enforcement mechanism is in place to ensure that member states meet their national contribution to this binding EU target, the European Parliament said.
The objective covers local, regional and national measures in different sectors – for example public administration, buildings, enterprises, data centers etc. For the public sector, heavier savings of 1.9 percent each year are foreseen. Member States must also convert at least 3 percent of public buildings to nearly zero-energy or zero-emission buildings each year. New requirements are also being introduced for efficient central heating systems.
“The energy crisis is not over. There is no guarantee that the next winters will be as mild as the last one. In the next seven years, we need to make the necessary structural changes,” said the rapporteur on the topic, Niels Fulsang (S&D, Denmark). “I am pleased that we have been able to push Member States to much more ambitious energy efficiency targets. This is crucial for us not to be more dependent on Russian energy in the future and to be able to meet our climate targets. Today’s vote is a big win; it’s not only good for our climate, but bad for Putin,” he added.
The new legislation was adopted with 471 votes “for”, 147 votes “against” and 17 votes “abstentions”. It has yet to be approved by the Council of the EU in order to enter into force.
On 14 July 2021, the European Commission adopted the ‘Target 55’ package adapting existing climate and energy legislation to meet the new EU target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 55% by 2030. The package also includes the reworking of the existing Energy Efficiency Directive, aligning its provisions with the new target of a 55% reduction in carbon emissions.
