Green light for new EU energy efficiency targets to lower bills and boost energy independence, while promoting growth and competitiveness

The Renew Europe Group welcomes today’s plenary endorsement of the trilogue agreement on the recast of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), a key driver within the framework of the Fit for 55 package to ensure the EU's progress towards climate neutrality by 2050. This aims to reduce overall energy use, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and tackling energy poverty.

The 11.7% energy efficiency target agreed by the co-legislators is an important enhancement that will reduce demand for energy imports and lower domestic and economy-wide costs. Renew Europe regrets the Council’s lack of ambition to agree upon the baseline set by the Commission in REPowerEU of a 13% energy reduction target by 2030. Nonetheless, our political group welcomes the fact that a large majority of the Parliament backs the agreement, so the EU could become the first geopolitical actor leading by example to get other major third countries on board.

Likewise, Renew Europe has defended that the energy saving efforts to reduce our dependency should fall under the responsibility of all concerned stakeholders: citizens, business, industry, but also the public sector. In this sense, Member States shall ensure that the total final energy consumption of all public administration bodies combined is reduced by at least 1.9% each year. Thanks to Renew Europe's commitment, the revised directive also foresees that energy efficiency measures will be stepped up to ensure a smooth transition for SMEs and industries, a vital engine for European economic growth.

MEP Nicola Danti (Italia Viva, Italy), Renew Europe Vice-President and ITRE shadow rapporteur on this file, declared:

“The cheapest energy is the energy that we don’t use. New efficiency targets will reduce the EU’s dependency on Russian gas and fossil fuels, lower the bills for our citizens and our companies and contribute to the EU’s climate and energy goals. Money spent in energy efficiency is not a cost, but rather an investment into a more sustainable future. Climate change and energy transition is one of the biggest challenges of this century. Renew Europe will remain vigilant”

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Green Deal Q&A part 6