The Clean Energy for all Europeans package, adopted in 2019, aims at helping decarbonise the EU’s energy system in line with the Green Deal objectives. It is doing so by updating the policy framework in relation to energy, which entailed the amendment of essential Directives.
Spark Legal Network has just completed a study for the European Commission (DG ENER) on assistance with the verification of compliance of national legislative measures implementing Directive (EU) 2018/2002 on energy efficiency and Directive (EU) 2018/844 on the energy performance of buildings. Both Directives are integral parts of the Clean Energy for all Europeans Package.
Background of the Study
Directive (EU) 2018/2002 on energy efficiency, amending Directive 2012/27/EU (hereafter “the amending EED”) was adopted on 11 December 2018 and the deadline for the transposition of most provisions was 25 June 2020.
This Directive establishes a headline EU energy efficiency target for 2030 of at least 32.5% (compared to projections of the expected energy use in 2030). It lays down rules designed to remove barriers in the energy market, overcome market failures that impede efficiency in the supply and use of energy, and encourage the uptake of innovative technologies, techniques, and services to stimulate the demand for energy efficiency measures.
Directive (EU) 2018/844 on the energy performance of buildings, amending Directive 2010/31/EU and Directive 2012/27/EU (hereafter “the amending EPBD”), was adopted on 30 May 2018 and the deadline for transposition was 10 March 2020.
Buildings have been found to be the largest energy consumer in Europe (approximately 40%), heavily contributing to the energy-related greenhouse gas emissions (approximately 36%). Heating, cooling, and domestic hot water account for 80% of the energy citizens consume.
The building sector is then crucial for achieving the EU’s energy and environmental goals. At the same time, better and more energy-efficient buildings will improve the quality of citizens’ life and alleviate energy poverty.
How did Spark contribute?
With the deadlines for the transposition of both amending Directives coming to an end, the European Commission mandated the verification of the completeness and conformity of the national transposition measures in October 2019. In this context, Spark and its network of national experts have been assessing for more than two years the national measures notified by the Member States to the European Commission. This assessment has allowed Spark to verify if all provisions of the amending EED and of the amending EPBD have been transposed into Member States’ national frameworks as necessary.
We are looking forward to seeing how the EU achieves its energy efficiency goals!
