The parliament voted for a 20% energy efficiency target by 2020 as part of a report on the Revision of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan.

The EU Commission will now have to agree to this proposal to make it happen; the outcome is expected in March next year.

The WWF is one of the organisations backing the proposals. Their policy officer for energy conservation, Arianna Vitali, said: “Today’s vote is a clear ask to the European Commission to solve one of the biggest incongruencies in the EU Climate and Energy Policy:

“Energy saving is left to member states’ good will, with the result that the goal is being badly missed.

“Only a binding target will define the clear obligation to deliver the energy savings that EU citizens and industries are waiting for.”

Energy efficiency measures, say the WWF will guarantee lower energy bills for EU consumers, with potential savings of around 1000 euro per household every year and one million new jobs in Europe.

Alison Brown

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