Ten EU business organisations join forces in an open letter addressed to the EU negotiators revising the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). Together, we are calling on the European Parliament and the EU Council to agree on setting an EU energy efficiency target fit for Europe’s climate goals, while ensuring sustainable economic growth and local job creation during this decade.

In June 2021, the European Commission proposed to revise the EED as part of the ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package to cut GHG emissions by at least -55%  by 2030. The Commission’s proposal for a recast EED includes higher and binding targets for reducing EU primary and final energy consumption by 2030. These targets would be reinforced by a benchmarking system for Member States to set their national indicative contributions to this binding EU target. Since then, the European Parliament and the Council adopted their respective positions.

Trilogue negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council are still ongoing, notably on the level and the nature of the 2030 target for energy efficiency.

Read the full letter here

Eighteen leading businesses and investors join forces in an open letter addressed to all members of the ITRE committee in the European Parliament in view of the upcoming committee vote on the file, which is scheduled for 9 February.

The letter reiterates that businesses and investors are ready to play their part in the transition of the buildings sector in line with the EU’s climate and energy goals. It also provides a list of business solutions, including EU-ASE catalogue of efficiency measures, to increase energy efficiency in buildings, research insights on national policies that can support stepping up the decarbonisation and energy efficiency in buildings, as well as mechanisms to accelerate investments in this key sector.

Read the full letter here

More than 20 organisations join EU-ASE in an open letter addressed to the EU negotiators revising the Energy Efficiency Directive. It calls for an effective implementation of the Energy Efficiency First principle in all of the EU, national and local policy, planning and investment projects regardless of the size of investments.

With the revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), the EU Institutions are due to agree in trialogue negotiations on provisions that introduce in the regulatory framework the implementation of the “Energy Efficiency First” Principle.

This letter, co-signed by European business organisations, housing associations and NGOs, calls on the EED negotiators to agree on applying the principle without monetary thresholds that could rule out its application in many local projects having an impact on the energy system, therefore missing the potential energy efficiency can have for the economy, society and the climate. 

Read the full letter here

The European Alliance to Save Energy sent a letter addressing the EU-27 energy and climate Ministers, ahead of the Energy Council meeting on 27 June.

The Russian military invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated the energy crisis and urged EU governments action to reduce soaring energy prices. As adopted in the Versailles Declaration by the European Council and as proposed by the European Commission in the REPowerEU plan, an ambitious revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive is critical to first and foremost reduce Europe’s energy demand.

Following the application of the Energy Efficiency First principle, improving energy efficiency across all sectors goes hand in hand with the replacement of fossil fuel solutions by cleaner, renewable energy sources. By reducing energy demand and optimising the full energy system through the reduction of peak demand, energy efficiency allows to reduce the need for investments in new generation, transmission and distribution systems, and thereby also ultimately reducing the costs passed onto consumers.

Read the full letter here