Tuesday 22 July 2014

Juncker backs 30% energy efficiency target

The soon-to-be President of the EU Commission, Jean Claude Juncker is behind a 30% energy efficiency target for 2030.

Speaking last week in the European Parliament, he threw his weight behind a tougher target than is expected to be proposed by current President Manuel Barroso, of 27-29%.

The day after he was elected Commission president (15 July), Juncker said: “A binding 30% energy efficiency target is for me the minimum."

His emphasis on boosting energy efficiency is seen as a way of reducing reliance on Russian gas.

Tomorrow (23 July) the European Commission will adopt the Energy Efficiency Communication, an in-depth analysis of the bloc’s progress towards its 2020 energy efficiency target.

It will also adopt an energy efficiency framework for the following years up to 2030.