Ana-Maria Tolbaru
Metal, steel industries warn EU efficiency laws could force them out of Europe
SPECIAL REPORT / Steelmakers and other metals industries fear that limits the EU is considering imposing on the amount of natural resources they use will push them out of Europe, where environmental regulations are less stringent.
Debate rages over how to measure resource efficiency
SPECIAL REPORT / Industrial and environmental groups are lining up to pressure the European Commission on how best to measure resource efficiency. Businesses have warned that a one-size-fits-all approach will hamper economic growth at a time when Europe strives to emerge from its sovereign debt crisis.
Brussels strives to keep resource-efficiency ‘on the radar’
SPECIAL REPORT / Faced with strong political headwinds against new environmental legislation in the current economic crisis, the European Commission is multiplying initiatives to keep resource-efficiency on the political radar.
‘Lowest energy tariffs’ do not necessarily mean lower bills, experts warn
UK Prime Minister David Cameron recently announced that he would pass a law forcing energy companies to offer their customers the lowest tariffs available, but this will not necessarily translate into cheaper energy bills, EU energy experts warn.
Energy savings hampered worldwide by regulatory laissez-faire: Economist study
Failure to enforce existing regulation is the main obstacle preventing the energy-efficiency services market from picking up across the globe - including in the European Union, India, China and the United States - says a recent study by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
MEPs question EU’s energy strategy in the Balkans
MEPs and local NGOs worry that that the European Commission is bypassing civil society and environmental rules as it devises an energy strategy for the Western Balkan region.
Cohesion policy makes baby steps towards simplification
While EU officials in Brussels boast about the proposed simplification of the bloc's cohesion policy, regional representatives contend that managing EU funds is still very complicated in practice.
EU takes final step in adopting Energy Efficiency Directive
EU ministers yesterday (4 October) placed the last piece of the 20-20-20 climate puzzle, agreed in 2007, by throwing their weight behind the EU's Energy Efficiency Directive.
Ireland will miss EU energy efficiency targets, study says
Ireland will have to double its efforts in making dwellings more energy-efficient or it will have to pay fines to the European Commission for not complying with the EU's newly adopted Energy Efficiency Directive, a new study shows.
Replacing laptops harms the environment, study shows
Upgrading old laptops is more energy-efficient than purchasing newer, 'greener' models, German scientists said on Monday (1 October).
IEA: Transport fuel use could be halved by 2030
Fuel consumption could be halved in 20 years' time if the right policies are put in place, despite an expected doubling in the number of cars in circulation worldwide, according to the International Energy Agency.
Oettinger feels the heat on boiler labelling rules
The meaningful energy labelling of household heating boilers is being gutted behind the scenes, green campaigners have warned, saying this could undermine the EU's 2020 target to cut energy consumption by 20%.
EU ‘considering’ 2013 benchmark report on smart meters
The European Commission is likely to draw a benchmark report on the costs and benefits of smart meters by mid-2013 and urge member states to inform it as soon as possible of their assessments and roll-out plans.
Parliament gives final green light to energy efficiency directive
The EU tightened the energy efficiency thumbscrew by one notch yesterday (11 September), when the European Parliament plenary threw its weight behind the new Energy Efficiency Directive, negotiated before the summer break with EU member states.
British minister ready for fight over ‘green’ VAT
The British government has no intention of raising VAT on energy efficiency products from 5% to 20%, bypassing a ruling of the European Commission that urged London to bring its legislation into line or be sued in the EU Court of Justice. Some MEPs are joining the UK in its cause, calling the Commission's ruling "complete nonsense".
US bets on cogeneration as Europe lags behind
President Barack Obama's recent decision to set binding targets for the proliferation of cogeneration plants by 2020 is casting a doubt on the level of ambition of the EU's green agenda.
Consumers unaware of smart meters ahead of EU-wide roll-out
A study commissioned by the United Kingdom's Department of Energy and Climate Change recently revealed that over half the population is unaware of the existence of smart meters.
Industry warns of ‘fragmented’ Europe on energy efficiency
As the European Commission awaits member states’ national implementation plans on the recently agreed Energy Efficiency Directive, industry players warn about the importance of creating consistent and uniform standards across Europe.
Double-counting fears hang over EU’s energy efficiency law
Experts warn about double-counting in annual energy savings as EU member states prepare their plans for the implementation of the newly agreed Energy Efficiency Directive.
UK’s top energy efficiency ranking thrown into doubt
A ranking of the UK as the world's most energy-efficient country by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) was “over-generous”and contradicted official EU statistics, Brussels experts have told EURACTIV.
‘Green’ EU budget to pump more money into brownfields
SPECIAL REPORT / The EU's new regional funds for 2014-2020 will see more money allocated to the regeneration of brownfield sites, helping old industrial areas generate new economic activity.
Lobbyists brace for new battle over EU energy efficiency
The lobbying battle on the Energy Efficiency Directive between member states, power utilities, consumers and green groups will intensify in the coming months, as countries will try to fashion ways of transposing new rules into their national legislation.
EU kicks off negotiations over regional funding budget
EU institutions officially launched negotiations yesterday (12 July) on the amount of regional funding that will come under the bloc's next seven-year budget (2014-2020). Tough debates lie ahead, including whether to subsidise oil and gas distribution networks.