EU member states not reaching 2020 energy efficiency goals, says Commission

Further efforts are needed by member states to reach the EU’s energy saving target of 20% by 2020, the European Commission said in a leaked draft communication obtained by the EU news and policy site EurActiv.

The Commission also watered down considerably in the latest draft.

Based on an analysis of member state actions and additional forecasts, the Commission now estimates that the EU will achieve energy savings of around 18-19% in 2020, according to the draft document. However, the Commission also writes that if all member states now, “work equally hard to implement fully the agreed legislation then the 20% target can be achieved without the need for additional measures.”

These efforts could include informing consumers better of the energy performance of buildings for sale or rent, forcing utilities to working with their customers to obtain energy savings, and strengthening market surveillance of the energy efficiency of products.

Energy efficiency has a fundamental role to play in making Europe more competitive, the EU executive believes. While energy powers economies, future growth needs to be driven with less energy and at a lower cost. The EU can deliver this new paradigm, the Commission states.

EurActiv previously reported that the Commission had proposed a 40% energy efficiency target for 2030 which would grow Europe’s economy at a rate of 4% a year, spark an annual 3.15% boost in employment, and cut fossil fuel imports by EUR 505 bln a year.