Agreed EU efficiency target leaves much work to do

EuroACE recognised that political progress on the level and nature of the 2030 energy efficiency target has been made, leading to the agreement on a headline 32.5% target in the final trilogue on the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). The European Parliament did a tremendous job in bringing the level of ambition of the Member States upwards, but it sacrificed its own position in the process.

This is regrettable, as the long-standing position of the Parliament, supported by EuroACE, is that the right, cost-effective level of ambition for 2030 is a binding 40% target. Compared to the agreed deal, estimated to create 884,000 jobs, a 40% binding target would have brought 2.5 million additional jobs, reduced EU gas imports by 30% and lifted about 15 million citizens out of fuel poverty.

The agreed target does not put the EU on track to live up to its commitments under the Paris Agreement. This leaves much work to be done to ensure that the planned review of the target in 2023 sees an ambitious jump. In the meantime, we will work with Member States to ensure the new energy efficiency framework supports the implementation of the new Buildings Directive, and turn our focus to the planned 2050 EU Strategy for a Low-Carbon Economy.