EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs is "very disappointed to see that 12 member states have yet to notify their [energy efficiency action] plan", he said in a 17 October press release announcing the launch of Commission infringement proceedings.
The member states concerned are Belgium, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.
France and Latvia were also singled out in a separate case concerning their failure to provide the Commission with "all the necessary evidence to conclude that the two countries have implemented the required measures" under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).
The Commission sent 'Reasoned Opinions' to both states, the last stage before the case is referred to the European Court of Justice. France and Latvia are more than 18 months late as the transposition deadline passed in January 2006.
The EPBD covers both residential and non-residential buildings, and provides a common methodology for calculating the energy performance of buildings and creating minimum standards of energy performance in individual member states.
The directive applies to new buildings and existing buildings subject to major renovations.
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