Les objectifs contraignants en matière d'efficacité énergétique ne sont "pas exclus"[en] 

In its recent review of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAPs), the Commission criticised member states for their lack of political commitment to measures aimed at increasing energy savings. What in your view is the reason for this? After all, energy savings are the cheapest way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, so why are they not doing more? 

In fact, what we said in our report on the member states' Energy Efficiency Action Plans was that at first sight they give some encouragement, although in several countries, there seems to be a considerable gap between the political commitment made to energy efficiency and the strategies and measures they are presenting in their Action Plans. There are many possible explanations for this. 

Energy prices have been quite low for a number of years, which may not provide sufficient motivation to increase the focus on energy efficiency work. The climate change concern has only recently come to the foreground and become accepted as a reality to many people - and political decision-makers. And, we also need to accept that in many cases, energy efficiency programmes and initiatives are complex to set up and run as they need numerous small actions taken by individual citizens and businesses. To reach these groups requires carefully designed and executed programmes in order to deliver on energy efficiency. 

The Commission itself has been criticised by Parliament lately for neglecting its own energy-efficiency targets and being "awfully understaffed". So isn't there a bit of a shared responsibility here? What is the Commission doing to remedy this? 

A recent report from the European Parliament by MEP Fiona Hall assesses the current status of energy efficiency policy. Ms. Hall in this report points out that the Commission has not delivered on all its 2007 actions of the 2006 Action Plan, notably as regards the timetables for minimum energy performance requirements of products. 

Actually, the level of our ambition goes beyond what has been promised in the Action Plan. We are currently developing eco-design requirements for 20 product groups, and not 14 as was originally planned. By early 2009 we intend to adopt implementing measures for six product groups and submit more than 10 additional ones to be voted upon in the committee. Several of these measures will be coupled with labelling requirements which should lead to a quick and dynamic shift of the market to the most efficient and environmentally-friendly products. 

On the issue of Commission staff, the situation has already been improved and it should get better in the near future. But, naturally, there is enough work for many more people.

What are the main initiatives that the Commission is planning to take this year on energy efficiency? 

We have very ambitious plans for this year. First of all, we wish to ensure that the existing legal framework really brings the results that are expected.

We have already many important pieces of legislation in place like the ones on eco-design, buildings, co-generation and energy services. Now we need to make full use of this legal framework so that the energy savings potentials are realised. This means, for instance, that the Commission will actively monitor and follow-up on the transposition of existing legislation. 

The Commission will also provide support to member states in order to facilitate implementation, for instance via different information exchange projects under the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme. The National Energy Efficiency Action Plans should play a key role here, in guiding and developing these efforts.

The new Commission initiatives include a re-cast of the energy performance of buildings directive and proposals for efficiency standards on street lighting, office lighting, stand-by appliances, external power supplies and set-top boxes.   

Also, we will work to improve the availability of financing for energy efficiency as well as focus efforts on several international initiatives to address and strengthen the profile of energy efficiency. 

On co-generation, there have been suggestions that the Commission could envisage raising the target from 10% to 20% in 2020 as part of the review of the 2004 co-generation directive. Can you elaborate on this? 

Co-generation today provides about 11% of European electricity. The current legal framework obliges member states to analyse the national potential for high efficiency co-generation and to submit statistics on progress. So there is a kind of informal target. 

The member states' reports indicate the possibility of increasing the share of co-generation, sometimes considerably. An overall informal target of 20% by 2020 for co-generation in the EU can be considered realistic. 

Though there is no immediate review planned for the directive on co-generation to incorporate targets, it would be an interesting option to further strengthen the commitment of member states to speed up the investments in better energy efficiency.

The target to increase energy efficiency by 20% by 2020 is currently non-binding. Could that be changed in the future to ensure greater commitment? 

Last spring, European leaders unanimously agreed on the famous 20%/20%/20% by 2020 target. One of the 20% [targets] is on energy efficiency. Although it is not a legally binding target (as the other two are), this should commit us all [...] Anyhow, it is not excluded that formal targets could be introduced in future.