In October 2006, the Commission put forward an EU Action Plan on Energy Efficiency, which was endorsed by member states during the March 2007 European Council (see our LinksDossier).
But progress towards achieving the goals set out in the plan has been poor, according a non-legislative report by UK Liberal MEP Fiona Hall, endorsed by MEPs in the Industry (ITRE) Committee on 1 October.
Out of 21 actions laid out in the plan and due for completion by 2007, only three had been completed by 1 September, with only nine of the 27 member states having submitted their National Action Plans (NAPs) on energy efficiency by that date (30 June was the deadline for the submission of the NAPs).
"Both the Commission and member-state governments have been guilty of a serious dereliction of duty over the implementation of energy-efficiency legislation", charges the report.
MEP Hall also voices "grave concerns" about the likely effectiveness of the plan. "For the current Action Plan to work, previous [energy-efficency] legislation needs to have been implemented effectively. Nothing could be further from the case", she said in the report's explanatory statement.
In addition, more needs to be done to simplify and facilitate access to financing for energy efficiency improvements, including preferential bank loans and better use of structural funds, according to the report. "The lack of simple and accessible funding constitutes a huge barrier for small businesses and micro-businesses in particular", it says.
The European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (EuroACE) welcomed the report "enthusiastically", in particular its recommendations to strengthen energy efficiency requirements in buildings. To date, only five EU member states have properly implemented EU energy efficiency legislation in the buildings sector, according to the report.
Parliament is scheduled to vote on the report in January 2008.
