11 October 2017, Brussels: Today an important vote took place in the Industry, Transport and Research (ITRE) Committee of the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) were called to vote on the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) and the final report adopted significantly improves the Commission’s proposal and counterbalances the weak General Approach of the Energy Council.
Commenting on the vote, Monica Frassoni, President of the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE), said “We are pleased with the vote today. MEPs have raised the level of ambition of this important Directive. We welcome their support to the definition of national long-term renovation strategies and the promotion of Smart Buildings. The EPBD voted today set a reliable and coherent framework to attract investments in the building sector”.
The positive vote of today is encouraging because it shows endorsement of energy efficiency policies and indicates that policy makers are in the process of fully understand the incredibly important role in the EU’s transition to a cleaner, healthier, more affordable energy system.
“There is more to do” said Monica Frassoni “the legislative process that concerns the energy efficiency directives (i.e. EPBD and Energy Efficiency Directive) under revision is still long. In the coming months we must keep high the level of ambition and during the forthcoming trialogue we must strengthen the key provisions of such directives to scale up investments to unprecedented level”.
And today, in its effort to engage with policy makers, business and energy efficiency stakeholders, EU-ASE released its new website. “Indeed it was a good day today for energy efficiency” concluded Monica Frassoni, “our new website is online and it will help to further promote energy efficiency as the smart, cost-effective and sustainable solution for European job growth and economic success.”