08-02-08

On 8 January 2008, Fiona Hall presented her report for the European Parliament on the EU Action Plan for Energy Efficiency endorsed by Heads of State last March, on the occasion of the EU Spring Council.

The report criticises EU Member State leaders for their insufficient commitments in implementing energy efficiency legislation in their respective countries, whereas on the other hand it criticizes the European Commission for the lack of resources put in place to achieve the expected results.

The report contains the following observations:

The EPBD (Directive 2002/91/EC) has been properly transposed by only five Member States, thus, the report urges the Commission to expedite infringement procedures against those Member States which have not properly transposed or fully implemented the Directive.

Concerning the Directive on End-use and Energy Services (2006/32/EC), that requires Member States to submit a National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) to the Commission by 30 June 2007, still only fifteen NEEAPs have been presented so far.

On VAT, the report calls on the Council to encourage Member States to apply a reduced rate of value added tax on labour, materials and components which improve energy efficiency in buildings; furthermore it stresses the need to ensure that the overall tax system reflects, in a coherent way, the aim of improving energy efficiency in buildings.

With reference to the building sector, the report calls on the Commission to propose a binding requirement to assure that all new buildings should be constructed under passive house principles or equivalent from 2011, and a requirement to use passive heating and cooling solutions from 2008.

Moreover, the report suggests the Commission to consider the gradual introduction of district heating and cooling grids for all buildings in order to reduce fossil fuel use in heating and cooling by utilising the losses occurring in the transformation of energy.

CECODHAS Secretariat will be in touch with Ms. Hall to assure a mutual information exchange on the follow-up to her report. 

Download Fiona Hall’s report here