EU agrees stronger Energy Efficiency Directive
Process in Brief
A provisional agreement was reached this morning between the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council to reform and strengthen the Energy Efficiency Directive as part of the 'Fit for 55' package and the REPowerEU plan.
What Is at Stake
The deal gives legal force to the energy efficiency first principle and sets an EU target of 11.7% for 2030, with annual savings obligations rising to 1.49% from 2024 and 1.9% by the end of 2030. It tightens public sector procurement and renovation rules, obliges public administrations to meet a new annual reduction target and renovate at least 3% of public building floor area, requires large energy consumers and enterprises above 85TJ to implement energy management systems or audits, introduces reporting for large data centres, reforms district heating toward full decarbonisation by 2050, strengthens financing measures, and includes the first EU definition of energy poverty with priority measures for vulnerable groups.
Timeline
The provisional agreement now requires formal adoption by the European Parliament and the Council before publication in the Official Journal and entry into force.
Sources
Official Documents
- European Green Deal: EU agrees stronger rules to boost energy efficiency Provisional agreement between the European Commission, European Parliament and Council to reform the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, setting an 11.7% 2030 target and higher annual energy-savings obligations, with strengthened public-sector duties and consumer protections.
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