The EEB strongly rejects the conclusions of Polish MEP Adam Gierek’s draft Energy Efficiency report, which was released to European Parliament’s Industry Committee (ITRE) last week.

Gierek’s report fails to take account of the EU’s existing legal framework and the Parliament’s own previous resolutions calling for binding 40% energy efficiency targets and national binding targets.

Responding to the report, EEB Policy Officer Roland Joebstl said:

“In his attempt to turn the Energy Efficiency Directive inside out, Gierek dismantles one of the central pillars of the Commission’s Energy Union while suggesting a worrying ignorance of the existing legal framework. We call on the MEPs of the ENVI and ITRE Committees to coordinate closely and focus on other, more reasonable proposals.”

Gierek’s report [1] attempts to remove key provisions that would have ensured the Directive address the final energy consumption of households, industry, the service sector, and small businesses.  The report’s focus on primary energy savings in power plants, transmission and distribution loses sight of the potential for citizens and final users to make gains.

The report seeks to impose a 35% energy efficiency target, which is far below the 40% previously supported by the European Parliament and Mr Gierek’s own group: the S&D.

Changes proposed by the MEP go beyond the scope of the Directive, even attempting to redefine the entire concept of energy efficiency and the energy savings measure described in Article 7. Gierek’s report instead attempts to create a tool to drive innovative investments in energy generating units: a clear attempt to subsidise coal.

Elsewhere, the report attempts to interfere with the Circular Economy package, Electricity Market Design, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and energy statistics. The Gierek report was published after a significant delay and difficulties in translation the rapporteur’s text.

The draft opinion of the Environment Committee (ENVI) on the same Directive was drafted by the Swedish MEP Jytte Guteland. [2] The Guteland  report has already been discussed by the ENVI Committee, it calls for stronger action and proposes a 40% binding target and a strengthening of energy saving measures.

Notes to editors:

[1] Draft report by MEP Adam Gierek on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency

[2] Draft opinion by MEP Jytte Guteland on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency