Priority to Energy Efficiency!

When the drums of war beat and we have no direct role to play other than supporting those who fight for peace and freedom, it remains essential to continue doing what is right and necessary. As in the famous fable of the hummingbird who, with just a few drops of water in its beak, tries to extinguish a fire: small but determined, because it is “doing its part”.

Despite occasional discouragement in front of the tendency to relegate the ecological transition to a secondary issue, it is imperative that we continue to defend the Green Deal and reposition it as a central topic in public debate. This approach stands in stark contrast to the culture of war.

 

Among these solutions, one in particular continues to be underestimated: the drastic and possible reduction of energy demand. It is a powerful lever, decisive also in countering an increasingly widespread ideological narrative: that of so-called “technological neutrality”. In practice, this concept often becomes an excuse to indiscriminately support all energy production technologies, irrespective of their concrete operativity, from “clean” gas to expensive, imaginary and distant technologies such as “clean” nuclear power or carbon capture. This approach has a specific effect: it deflects the urgency of cutting emissions immediately, diverts resources and priorities away from renewables and energy efficiency, and condemns us to an endless transition, while continuing to happily depend on gas.

It is a perverse logic that keeps some governments and unfortunately also part of the industrial world – behind on renewables, uninterested in energy efficiency and all too vocal on nuclear power.

Yet the data speaks for itself. Without the efficiency measures already in place, the EU’s energy consumption would be 27% higher today, equivalent to the combined consumption of France, Germany and Finland. And if we fully achieve the targets set, we could save €33 billion a year in energy imports by 2030, rising to over €70 billion by 2040.

Every percentage point of improvement in energy efficiency equates to a 2.6% cut in gas imports. And, crucially after events such as the blackout in Spain, managing electricity consumption more flexibly, avoiding peaks, could reduce the investment needed in networks by 35%. That is no small thing.

It is precisely to put this often overlooked issue back at the centre of the agenda that on 12 and 13 June, the International Energy Agency, together with the EU Commission and a group of multinationals united in the EE Movement, organised the tenth edition of the Global Energy Efficiency Conference. This is a high-level annual event, which this year brought together over 700 participants from around 100 countries.

The focus of the 2025 edition was the preparation of COP30 in Belém and the translation into concrete actions of the commitments made in Dubai during COP28: the start of the phase-out of fossil fuels, the doubling of the annual rate of improvement in energy efficiency (from 2% to 4%) and the tripling of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030. At a time when the European Green Deal is under pressure and the Commission is tempted to reopen – under the pretext of simplification – regulations that have already been approved, the decision to hold the conference in Brussels took on significant political value.

It has brought back into the spotlight a fundamental issue that is often sacrificed in favour of more “glamorous” discussions, such as those on gas or nuclear power, and has provided an opportunity to share solutions that are already available and, in many cases, are just waiting to be implemented on a large scale.

The event also showed that, at global level, a significant number of governments, businesses and social actors are pushing hard for energy consumption reduction, recognising it as a crucial component of the transition and a guarantee of energy independence and security. Private meetings between CEOs and ministers, working sessions organised by technical bodies such as the ECEEE, and strategic discussions on the role of industrial parks and smart grids enriched the debate, culminating in an official commitment by 47 countries to consider energy efficiency a political priority in all sectors.

As for the European Union, Commissioner Dan Jørgensen took the opportunity to launch a ten-point action plan to “give new impetus” to energy efficiency. The measures announced include greater support for Member States in implementing directives on efficiency, ecodesign and the energy performance of buildings, the inclusion of specific provisions on efficiency in the new legislative package on networks and electrification, instruments to facilitate investment in the transport, construction and industrial processes sectors, and the introduction of guarantee schemes for small and medium-sized enterprises. Finally, the promise to present a legislative package dedicated to the energy efficiency of data centres by early 2026 is particularly significant.

However, alongside the enthusiasm expressed by Commissioner Jørgensen, who has always been personally committed to this issue, there remain serious concerns about the EU’s action. According to the recently published report on the state of implementation of the National Energy and Climate Plans, the commitments made by governments indicate that the EU is on track with regard to renewables and emissions reduction, but energy efficiency remains dramatically behind: compared to a European target of an 11.7% reduction in final consumption by 2030 compared to the baseline scenario, the measures currently envisaged in the national plans would lead to an improvement of only 8%.

It should be noted that the 11.7% target set in the 2023 European Energy Efficiency Directive corresponds to a final energy consumption of 763 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) and a primary consumption of 992.5 Mtoe, with a reduction from previous levels equivalent, in practice, to the annual energy consumption of a country such as Spain.

Despite these undeniable figures, many Member States remain reluctant to allocate adequate resources, particularly in the building and transport sectors. Utilities are also far from enthusiastic about the new demand reduction obligations contained in the efficiency directive. Furthermore, the EU executive has not shelved the idea of simplifying – i.e. weakening – some of the regulations in the Fit for 55 package. Only joint action by businesses and NGOs has so far prevented the reopening of the directives on energy efficiency and energy performance of buildings. However, pressure from the more conservative industrial world and political forces opposed to the transition shows no sign of abating.

Finally, in the delicate discussions that have been going on for months on the revision of the Climate Law, aimed at defining new interim targets for 2040, it is the European Commission itself that seems not to envisage any specific targets for energy efficiency, which would risk making the 2030 target less binding. This is a perplexing choice, justified by some with the widespread but unfounded argument that reducing energy demand would slow economic growth. Yet the data show exactly the opposite: while EU emissions have fallen by 37% since 1990, GDP has grown by 68% over the same period. This is a clear sign that reducing energy consumption is not only compatible with development but can actually be one of its main drivers, activating technological supply chains, generating employment and increasing competitiveness. In short, reducing energy demand in homes, industry and transport today means boosting economic activity, not depressing it.

In this context, the event organised by the IEA offered an encouraging sign: the clearest and most resolute voices came from businesses themselves. In particular, Anne-Laure de Chammard, executive vice president of Siemens, forcefully summarised a message that we fully share: businesses have a direct responsibility to push for the consistent application of regulations that have already been approved, without reopening or dismantling what has been painstakingly built; and it is precisely businesses that need to provide more explicit examples, highlighting the concrete benefits of energy efficiency: competitiveness, innovation and resilience. Rather than reopening or dismantling, what is needed today is a strong awareness-raising campaign to make the concrete, tangible and accessible results that energy efficiency can offer visible to the public and governments: a positive, clear and, in some ways, unusual message. This is especially true for those of us in Italy who are used to hearing only complaints and calls to scale back the Green Deal from institutional representatives of much of the business community.

Monica Frassoni
President, EU-ASE
Brussels, 16 June 2025

Article published on GreenReport: https://www.greenreport.it/editoriale/56263-priorita-allefficienza-energetica-il-green-deal-contro-la-cultura-della-guerra

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Energy Efficiency Today, Competitiveness Tomorrow: 2024 in Review

2024 was a year of action for EU-ASE, strengthening the role of energy efficiency as a key driver of competitiveness, energy security and decarbonisation in Europe.

Through high-level advocacy, strategic publications, impactful events and digital outreach, we worked to ensure that energy efficiency remains at the heart of EU policymaking. From shaping the Clean Industrial Deal and influencing climate targets to hosting the third edition of European Energy Efficiency Day, our efforts have helped reinforce energy system efficiency as a key priority for Europe’s future.

The 2024 Activity Report showcases our engagement with EU institutions to shape energy efficiency policies, the publications and position papers that contributed to the energy efficiency agenda and the events and speaking engagements that amplified industry and policymaker dialogue.

As we move into 2025, we remain committed to advancing a sustainable, competitive and energy-efficient Europe.

Read the full report here.

 

 

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EU-ASE Response to the European Water Resilience Strategy Public Consultation

The European Alliance to Save Energy supports the European Commission’s efforts to develop a European Water Resilience Strategy.

Europe faces both a competitiveness crisis and increasing water scarcity. To address these challenges, the Water Efficiency First (WE1st) principle must be embedded in the strategy. Drawing from the Energy Efficiency First (EE1st) principle, we emphasize that prioritizing efficiency in water use across all sectors enhances economic resilience, and industrial competitiveness while supporting climate goals.

The EE1 principle, embedded in EU energy policy, requires prioritization of efficiency measures in planning, policy, and investment decisions. Similarly, the WE1st principle should be formally integrated into EU legislation for a systemic application. Water demand reduction across industries should be a priority, ensuring efficiency without placing burden on consumers. Member States must integrate water efficiency into decision-making, aligning it with climate, industrial, and digital policies, while ensuring due consideration in the built environment. A water-energy nexus approach is crucial, leveraging synergies between water conservation and energy savings, particularly in semiconductors, and data centers.

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EU-ASE welcomes the Clean Industrial Deal and the Action Plan for Affordable Energy

Energy Efficiency must be better recognized at the heart of Europe’s industrial and energy strategy.

The European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) welcomes the publication of the Clean Industrial Deal (CID) and the Action Plan for Affordable Energy (Action Plan). We recognize them as important steps towards Europe’s industrial decarbonisation, increased competitiveness and energy security. As representatives of Europe’s energy efficiency actors, we support the prominent role given to energy efficiency in the Action Plan, acknowledging its critical importance in ensuring affordability, competitiveness, and decarbonisation. We also welcome the recognition of energy efficiency in the Clean Industrial Deal but stress that it must be further elevated as a core pillar of industrial competitiveness. We emphasize that the effective implementation of the “energy efficiency first” principle is a key element to address the challenge that European industry faces in terms of the cost of energy.

Monica Frassoni, President of EU-ASE, staded: Today, while the Clean Industrial Deal acknowledges energy efficiency, there is still room to further recognize its full potential as a crucial enabler that structurally reduces operational costs, enhances industrial competitiveness, and strengthens resilience against volatile energy prices. Building on the positive elements of both publications, it is essential to strengthen coherence between these two initiatives and ensure that the Clean Industrial Deal becomes a true driver of the ambitious and timely implementation of the existing energy efficiency regulatory framework”.

 

Read the full press release here.

 

Media contact:
Ileana Okumus 
Policy and Advocacy Advisor 
ileana.okumus@euase.eu 

About us
The European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) is a cross-sectoral, business-led organisation that ensures that the voice of energy efficiency is heard across Europe. EU-ASE members have operations across the 27 Member States of the European Union, employ over 340.000 people in Europe and have an aggregated annual turnover of €115 billion.

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Meet the Energy Efficiency Ecosystem

 

 

This infographic showcases the economic impact of the energy efficiency industrial ecosystem in the European Union.

The data highlight annual turnover, employment figures, and patent ownership, demonstrating the significant contribution that energy-efficient industries provide to the European economy. 

As the Clean Industrial Deal takes shape, recognizing the scale of this ecosystem is key. Energy-efficient industries play a crucial role in driving economic growth, creating jobs, fostering innovation, and increasing Europe’s industrial competitiveness while advancing sustainability.

 

Download here the infographic.

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