State of play

The European Commission adopted and published on 14 July 2021 a proposal for a recast Energy Efficiency Directive (EDD). The recast proposal raises the level of ambition of the EU’s energy consumption reduction targets for 2030: from -32,5% to -39% primary energy consumption, and from -32,5% to -36% final energy consumption. The proposal also makes the collective targets binding, and sets indicative national contributions based on a benchmarking framework.

The Council adopted its General Approach on 27 June 2022, which endorses the collective targets of -39% and -36% but leaves some wiggle room for Member States in setting their indicative national contribution. The Parliament adopted its position on 14 September 2022, pushing for even more ambitious targets: -42.5% and -40% respectively. The Parliament also insists that Member States should set binding – rather than indicative – national contributions. The inter-institutional negotiations are ongoing; the second one took place on 22 November 2022 and a third one on 14 December 2022. There appear to be some roadblocks still before agreement is found, but final adoption of the recast EED is expected to follow in early 2023.