Improved energy performance in all of Europe’s existing buildings, tougher standards and better labelling of appliances and a new international agreement on energy efficiency form part of the European Commission’s new proposals for European energy policy announced on 10 January.

Targets for renewable energy are also to be revised upwards. The new ‘roadmap’ published by the Commission includes a proposal for an overall binding 20% renewable energy target and a pathway to bring renewable energies in the fields of electricity, heating and cooling and transport to the economic and political mainstream.

The Commission is also considering measures to improve the take-up of smart metering. It says "Smart meters are also good for consumers giving them more frequent readings and the opportunity to modify their consumption patterns". While the recently approved Directive on Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services provides Member States with opportunities to use smart metering in achieving energy efficiency targets, the Commission is now going to examine if "further specific action" is required in this area.

The new series of policy measures, which will all have to be debated and agreed with the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, are based on three central pillars: increased energy efficiency; an accelerating shift to low carbon energy; and the creation of a true internal energy market.

The mainstay of the new policy is a core energy objective for Europe, says the Commission. This objective is that the EU should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020. Further, the European Commission believes that the post-Kyoto international framework for reducing carbon emissions should lead internationally to a 30% cut from developed countries by this date – such an agreement would presumably be a signal for the EU to raise its targets again by a further 50% to reach this higher figure.

Many of the issues surrounding energy efficiency were set out in a comprehensive Action Plan on Energy Efficiency outlined late last year. This now forms part of the new, comprehensive energy policy structure announced on 10 January.

The new policies were all announced at the same time and come to more than 20 official documents with additional press releases and explanatory memos. National governments will have nearly two months to study them before heads of government debate them in Brussels in March. While the details still have to be argued, there is a momentum in the Community for action and the Commission is keen to push ahead with legislation.

http://europa.eu/press_room/presspacks/energy/index_en.htm