Revised EU Energy Efficiency Directive nears enactment

The EU's legislative trio has provisionally agreed to raise the block's energy consumption reduction target towards 2030.

PHOTO: European Commission Building in Brussels, Belgium. Getty Images

The Council of Europe, European Parliament and European Commission have reached a provisional agreement to revise the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) as part of its Fit for 55 strategy.

Through the provisional agreement, the EU aims to reduce energy consumption by 11.7% by 2030, compared to 2020 levels. The 11.7% target is higher than the Commission’s proposed 9% reduction, but lower than the Parliament’s proposed target of 14.5%.

If it is made into law, the revised directive will require EU member states to save 1.49% of their total energy consumption on average every year from 2024 onwards, from a current savings level 0.8%. The target will gradually increase to 1.9% by 2030.

The provisional agreement will now be subject to approval by the Council and Parliament, before going into the formal steps of adoption.

Upon approval by the presidents of the Parliament and Council, the directive will be published in the Official Journal of the EU and become effective 20 days later.

By Konica Bhatt

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