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23.07.2014 16:25
© European Parliament
European Commissioners have agreed the EU should cut its energy consumption 30 per cent by 2030, in a bid to slash carbon emissions and boost energy security in response to the escalating security crisis in Ukraine.
Commissioners agreed the proposal today, which will now be put to member states in the European Council and the European Parliament, Businessgreen.com reported.
Green groups, businesses, and Brussels officials have all been debating the level of ambition the EU should opt for in recent months, but today Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said the 30 per cent target was "both ambitious but realistic".
"Our proposal is the basis to drive the EU towards increased security of supply, innovation and sustainability, all in an affordable way," he said. "The energy efficiency strategy will complete the 2030 framework on energy and climate which has been presented in January 2014. Our aim is to give the right signal to the market and encourage further investments in energy saving technologies to the benefit of businesses, consumers and the environment."
A number of countries, including the UK have opposed plans for specific energy efficiency or renewable energy targets post 2020, arguing instead that member states should be free to choose which technologies will best help them reduce carbon emissions and curb demand. Eastern European countries reliant on Russian gas supplies had also been seeking to block the target.
But as tensions mount between Russia, Ukraine and the West, energy efficiency has moved sharply up the agenda. Writing on Twitter today, Connie Hedegaard, Climate Action Commissioner, said the move sent a "strong signal - also to Putin".
A new report by European Commission published today placed energy efficiency as a core focus for the bloc’s Cohesion Policy during the next six years, alongside employment and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.
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