COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 7 December 1998 on energy efficiency in the European Community (98/C 394/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Council resolution of 8 July 1996 on the White Paper, 'An energy policy for the European Union` (1),

Having regard to the Council resolution of 8 June 1998 on renewable sources of energy (2),

Having regard to the Council resolution of 18 December 1997 on a Community strategy to promote combined heat and power (3),

Having regard to the Council conclusions of 11 May and 16 and 17 June 1998 on climate change,

Having regard to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,

Having regard to the Energy Charter Treaty and the Protocol on energy efficiency and related environmental aspects, and the pan-European energy conservation initiative,

Having regard to the Presidency conclusions of the Cardiff European Council concerning the integration of environmental considerations and sustainable development into all relevant policy areas,

Having regard to the SAVE II programme and to the discussions concerning the energy framework programme as well as the fifth framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities,

1. WELCOMES the general thrust of the Commission's communication on energy efficiency in the European Community, 'Towards a strategy for the rational use of energy` as a basis for the development of actions at Community level complementary to actions undertaken by Member States.

2. EMPHASISES the contribution of efficient use of energy to security of supply, economic competitiveness and environmental protection and CONFIRMS the important role of energy efficiency in the creation of business opportunities and employment as well as its global and regional benefits.

3. REAFFIRMS the importance of the further development and implementation of appropriate common and coordinated policies and measures (CCPMs) for the energy efficiency sector, as a complement to national policies and measures and taking into account specific national characteristics and priorities, in order to enable the Community and Member States to achieve their respective commitments under the Kyoto Protocol; CONFIRMS that such CCPMs should be developed in a manner which is consistent with the three key objectives of energy policy, which are to promote security of supply, competitiveness and protection of the environment.

4. CONFIRMS the importance of an energy efficiency strategy at Community level, complementary to Member States' policies; STRESSES the crucial role to be played by Member States in achieving this strategy, and RECOMMENDS Member States to develop and implement, in conformity with national procedures, national energy efficiency strategies, taking into account, if appropriate, the strategic approach at Community level.

5. NOTES the Communication's assessment of an economic potential for energy saving available in the Community as a whole by the year 2010 at an estimated 18 % of 1995 energy consumption.

6. CONSIDERS that the Communication's indicative target for the Community as a whole up to the year 2010 to improve energy intensity of final consumption by a further one percentage point per annum, on average, over that which would have otherwise been attained is ambitious and provides useful guidance for increased efforts at Community level as well as in Member States, bearing in mind the need to reflect differing national circumstances and energy price levels.

7. STRESSES that the profile of energy efficiency must be raised significantly and that a renewed commitment strongly made by the Community and Member States to the rational use of energy is necessary.

8. BELIEVES that, inter alia in the context of the new commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, present Community and Member States activities with relevance to energy efficiency should be reassessed in order, if necessary, to adapt their focus, improve their effectiveness and monitor more closely these activities.

9. NOTES that many different types of barriers persist which prevent the realisation of the potential for energy saving, and that it is a challenge to public-policy makers to create a framework in which energy efficiency initiatives of economic operators can flourish, but CONSIDERS that appropriate measures are either already available or could be developed in order to reduce and eliminate these barriers, taking into account the principle of subsidiarity.

10. CONSIDERS that increased exchange of information and other cooperation between Member States and the Commission on energy efficiency policies, programmes, measures and results are necessary.

11. CONFIRMS that the development of further Community activities in cooperation with Member States is desirable, for example in relation to CCPMs as referred to in point (3); RECALLS its conclusions of 11 May 1998 (energy) and 16 and 17 June 1998 (environment) in the field of energy efficiency; CONSIDERS that those activities could, taking into account the principle of subsidiarity, consist for example of measures of the following types:

(i) the increased use of combined heat and power (CHP), including district heating and cooling, where appropriate;

(ii) increased emphasis especially on the building sector, but also on energy use by industry and households;

(iii) increased and extended use of labelling, certification and standardisation;

(iv) increased dissemination of best-practice information on the application of energy efficient technologies and techniques;

(v) increased use of negotiated and long-term agreements on energy efficiency on a voluntary basis;

(vi) the revision of existing legislation and the development of new legal instruments, including the use of mandatory minimum efficiency standards, if necessary and if other measures are not appropriate;

(vii) the use of instruments such as cooperative technology procurement in compliance with competition law and principles, and the taking account of energy efficiency in public sector procurement practices, as well as energy audition, if appropriate;

(viii) wider use of innovative financing instruments including third-party financing and guarantee-of-results schemes.

12. RECOGNISES the importance of spreading knowledge, experience and awareness throughout the Community in the field of energy efficiency, and of developing and supporting specific measures and legislation, where appropriate, and the need for continuous development of new and more effective measures and technologies; CONFIRMS in this context the importance of the SAVE II programme, which will become an integral part of the energy framework programme, and the fifth framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities, inter alia, in relation to small and medium-sized enterprises.

13. BELIEVES that it is highly desirable to build energy efficiency into other Community policies where it is appropriate to do so while respecting the basic objectives of these policies; RECOGNISES that other Community policies, including regional policy, research and technology, transport, industry, external relations and State aid, could make a significant contribution to the promotion of energy efficiency.

14. NOTES attentively in the Commission's working document (4) the list of possible policy measures which include appropriate energy-fiscal measures, economic incentives and other similar economic measures to help reduce emissions; NOTES that the discussion at Union level is being pursued in the appropriate formation of the Council.

15. CONSIDERS that possible modifications in relation to energy efficiency during the revision of the Community guidelines for State aid must not have a distorting effect on competition.

16. INVITES the Commission to come forward as soon as possible with a proposal for a prioritised action plan for energy efficiency, using as a basis the above items, in particular those included as examples in point (11). The action plan should also take account of the contribution that other Community policies can make to the promotion of energy efficiency. It should indicate Community and Member State responsibilities and contain, in particular, indications on financing and timetables.

(1) OJ C 224, 1.8.1996, p. 1.

(2) OJ C 198, 24.6.1998, p. 1.

(3) OJ C 4, 8.1.1998, p. 1.

(4) Energy policy options for responding to the climate change challenge: Towards the definition of a 'post-Kyoto energy policy strategy`.