Een energie-efficiënte EU is een sterke EU (en) - Montesquieu Instituut

The Danish Presidency is working to promote the transition to a green economy with a greater focus on sustainability. One of the most important initiatives taken at EU level is the EU's Energy Efficiency Directive, which was proposed by the Commission in June 2011. The EU Member States have agreed that the negotiations of the Directive should be completed by the end of June 2012 and currently the Danish Presidency is negotiating an agreement with the European Parliament on behalf of the Council.

"Future growth in Europe hinges on increased resource efficiency and to a very large extend increased energy efficiency. The Energy Efficiency Directive can form a valuable part of the foundation for growth and job creation in years to come - and will limit Europe’s import of expensive fossil fuels ”

Minister for Climate, Energy and Building Martin Lidegaard

In 2007 the European Council adopted conclusions on the need to increase energy efficiency in the Union to achieve the objective of saving 20% of the Union’s primary energy consumption by 2020. The European Council has emphasised that the 20% energy efficiency target must be delivered, and has called on the Energy Council to finalise negotiations on the Energy Efficiency Directive with the Parliament before end of June this year.

The Energy Efficiency Directive will cost € 24 billion a year until 2020 but it will save companies and consumers € 44 billion due to reduced fuel ex-penditures and less investments in energy generation and distribution. The Commission has estimated that the Directive will lead to an increased GDP in EU of € 34 billion in 2020, and increased employment of 400.000. And if we implement all foreseen energy efficiency measures within the next decade, every household in Europe could save up to € 1,000 every year.

Improving energy efficiency by 20 % in 2020 can cut 740 million tonnes of the EU’s CO2 emissions every year and set Europe on a cost-efficient trajectory for reaching the target of cutting emissions by 80-95% by 2050.

“From 2010 to 2011 alone, the EU’s oil bill increased by nearly €100 billion. It is high time that we put a plug in this hole and redirect our money from importing energy from outside the EU to making energy investments in Europe. Improving energy efficiency is not in opposition to economic growth, it is instead a prerequisite for economic growth ”.

Minister for Climate, Energy and Building Martin Lidegaard

Click the fact sheets for more insights on why the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive matter.