EU countries behind schedule on 2030 energy efficiency goals: report

(EurActiv, 30 Oct 2023) Only 16 EU countries have met a June deadline to submit updated National Energy and Climate Plans to the European Commission for the period running up to 2030 – and none of them are fully compliant with the EU’s latest energy efficiency goals, according to a new report.

The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), adopted earlier this year, sets an EU-wide objective of reducing energy consumption by at least 11.7% by 2030.

For the first time, the EU’s overall target is divided between member states on the basis of a reference formula that sets out their national contributions, with an automatic gap-filling mechanism in case countries fail to meet their obligation of reducing final energy consumption by 1.5% annually between 2024 and 2030.

EU member states were due to submit draft National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) to the European Commission by 30 June 2023. In those, governments were expected to outline new measures – including on energy efficiency – to meet the EU’s goal of cutting net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% before the end of the decade.

The European Commission now has until the end of the year to assess each plan individually and provide country-specific recommendations, six months before the last deadline for submitting final NECPs, in June 2024.

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EurActiv, 30 Oct 2023: EU countries behind schedule on 2030 energy efficiency goals: report