In the Energy Union strategy released in February, the European Commission commits to ensure that energy efficiency competes on equal terms with energy generation.
"The European Commission is finally making energy efficiency a prerequisite for a coherent energy policy", said Stefan Scheuer, Secretary General of the Coalition for Energy Savings.
As a multi-stakeholder Coalition, uniting 26 European business, civil society, professional, trade union and local government organisations, the Coalition for Energy Savings calls on the European Union to reap the huge cost-effective energy savings potential spread across its economy, evaluated at 40% by 2030. This would bring energy security, sustainability, jobs, and economic growth.
Expectations have been raised by Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič's and Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete's calls for 'energy efficiency first' to become the Union's motto, but further steps are needed to ensure energy efficiency is prioritised over increasing supply where it would deliver more value. This includes improving the valuation of energy efficiency in energy projections, stepping up implementation of existing EU requirements, ensuring that public funding is only allocated to the most cost-effective projects, and revising legislation for the energy market and energy efficiency adequately.
