EU energy efficiency directive enters force

Citation

(2006), "EU energy efficiency directive enters force", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 17 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/meq.2006.08317fab.002

EU energy efficiency directive enters force

The new EU law on end-use energy efficiency and energy services has now entered force and will now be implemented.

The Directive sets an indicative target of a 9 per cent cut in energy use over business-as-usual in the nine years 2008 to 2017. It requires member states to draw up a rolling series of energy efficiency action plans. The first must be ready by 30 June 2007, the second by 30 June 2011 and the third by 30 June 2014. Member states must transpose the directive into national law by 17 May 2008, with the exception of three sub-articles to be incorporated earlier, by 17 May 2006. These deal with information on existing practices, the submission of national action plans, and the assessment of these plans by the commission. The commission will assess and report on each plan within six months of its submission. Thereafter, it will enter force. Information on existing energy saving practices must be supplied as soon as possible, preferably no later than 16 November 2006. The Commission will use these reports in developing harmonised European energy efficiency indicators and benchmarks by the end of June 2008.

The Directive is available at: http://europa.eu.int/eurlex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/l_114/l_11420060427en00640085.pdf