A4-0086/99

Resolution on the Communication from the Commission on energy efficiency in the European Community - towards a strategy for the rational use of energy (COM(98)0246 - C4-0316/98)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Communication from the Commission (COM(98)0246 - C4-0316/98),

- having regard to the protocol of 10 December 1997 of the third conference on the Convention on Climate Change in Kyoto, where the European Union agreed to an 8% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2010 compared with 1990 levels,

- having regard to its resolution of 19 February 1998 on environmental policy and climate change following the Kyoto summit ((OJ C 80, 16.3.1998, p. 227.)) and its resolution of 9 February 1999 on the outcome of the Fourth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Buenos Aires from 2 to 13 November 1998 ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 15.)),

- having regard to its opinion of 12 November 1996 on the proposal for a Council Directive to introduce rational planning techniques in the electricity and gas distribution sectors ((OJ C 362, 2.12.1996, p. 65.)),

- having regard to its opinion of 11 March 1999 on the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a multiannual programme for the promotion of energy efficiency ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 11(b).)),

- having regard to the key action 'Economic and efficient energy for a competitive Europe' within the fifth framework programme in the field of research, technological development and demonstration (1998-2002) ((OJ L 26, 1.2.1999, p. 1.)),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy (A4-0086/99),

A. whereas coverage of the rapidly increasing worldwide demand for energy by means of fossil fuels is posing an increasing threat to the climate; whereas the European Union agreed in Kyoto in 1997 to reduce EU-wide CO2 emissions by 8% by 2010 by comparison with 1990 levels, a commitment that it confirmed in Buenos Aires in November 1998; and whereas this agreement will become legally binding once it has been ratified,

B. whereas the reduction agreement into which the Union entered at Kyoto is purely a minimum requirement and whereas compliance therewith should be regarded as merely a first step towards larger-scale reductions in the EU,

C. whereas the proportion of European Union energy consumption that has to be covered by imports will probably increase from the present figure of 50% to some 70% by 2020,

D. whereas saving energy is the cleanest and surest energy source,

E. whereas far less energy is saved than is currently technically and economically possible, and whereas most Member States exploit this potential inadequately,

F. whereas, in order to achieve this objective, swift agreement on a comprehensive strategy at European, national and regional level is essential, together with its rapid implementation which should be checked against measurable targets,

G. whereas energy-saving measures create jobs, especially in small and medium-sized firms, open up new export markets in the modern technology sector, save considerable expenditure on fossil fuels by national economies, and thus improve the European Union's balance of trade and competitiveness,

H. whereas economical use of energy is not just an economic matter, but above all entails health and environmental benefits that the Commission should discuss in a separate communication,

I. whereas positive experiences in several Member States show that informing and motivating the public can unleash great forces for achieving energy savings,

J. whereas the Commission White Paper entitled 'An energy policy for the European Community' (COM(95)0682) provides a suitable basis for a Community strategy on energy efficiency,

1. Welcomes the Commission Communication and calls on the Commission to put forward the specific proposals for directives and for amendments to directives announced therein as quickly as possible;

2. Notes that the current annual improvement in energy efficiency of 0.6% falls far short of being enough to achieve the targets agreed in Kyoto, and therefore regards it as essential to achieve average annual efficiency gains of 2.5% by 2010;

3. Expects the Member States to commit themselves to binding national overall targets;

4. Calls on the Member States to draw up guideline targets by energy type and economic sector;

5. Calls on the Commission, starting no later than the end of 2001, to evaluate the national plans for energy savings at three-yearly intervals in terms of their capacity to contribute to the achievement of the Community target and, if necessary, to initiate additional activities of its own and of the Member States (e.g. information campaigns aimed first and foremost at young people);

6. Supports the Commission's plan to draw up a proposal for a directive on energy efficiency standards in public procurement;

7. Welcomes the fact that the Commission regards Directive 93/76/EEC to limit carbon dioxide emissions by improving energy efficiency (SAVE) ((OJ L 237, 22.9.1993, p. 28.)) as being inadequate in its present form, and calls on it to be more consistent than hitherto in pursuing breaches of this directive;

8. Recognises the possibilities offered by combined heat and power and therefore calls on the Commission to ensure that, in connection with energy market liberalisation, this new technology is treated on an equal footing with traditional energy production methods, so as to achieve the objective, laid down in its Communication to the Council, Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a Community strategy to promote combined heat and power (CHP) and to dismantle barriers to its development (COM(97)0514), of 18% of energy requirements being supplied by combined heat and power;

9. Welcomes the Commission's intention to develop guidelines for the renovation of existing buildings with the aim of increased energy efficiency, given that buildings account for 40% of energy consumption in the European Union;

10. Calls on the Commission once again to put forward firm proposals for a Union-wide energy tax which will take into account the internalisation of external energy consumption costs;

11. Calls on the Commission to give greater consideration to the energy efficiency dimension in connection with spatial and transport planning (e.g. by means of simulations of traffic flows in conurbations and the optimisation of transport links using different modes of transport);

12. Calls on the Commission to treat the promotion of energy efficiency as a priority in future budgetary procedures and, even at the stage of drawing up the preliminary draft budget, to make provision for appropriate resources, at least equivalent to those that it originally proposed for the SAVE II programme, for implementing the Community's strategy in this area;

13. Advocates that, as part of the negotiations on Agenda 2000, it should be ensured that the Regulations governing the agricultural, Structural and Cohesion Funds are supplemented by directives to promote increased energy efficiency;

14. Looks to the Commission to encourage national information campaigns with a view to disseminating information widely among consumers about the environmental and economic benefits of efficient energy use, providing technical information for specific occupational groups and ensuring comprehensive labelling of electrical consumer and investment goods;

15. Calls on the Commission to back proposals to shift traffic flows from energy-intensive to energy-efficient modes of transport and to support appropriate pilot projects;

16. Calls on the European Investment Bank to step up its funding of projects for the rational use of energy and, in so doing, to develop and promote innovative financing schemes, with particular consideration for the formation of small and medium-sized firms, particularly in the field of energy service companies (ESCOs);

17. Calls on the Commission, too, to develop a programme for promoting ESCOs in connection with energy market liberalisation, particularly as regards equal treatment with pure energy producers, for instance where the granting of credit by third parties is concerned;

18. Proposes to all the Community bodies the drafting of guidelines for the award of contracts for buildings maintenance and for new buildings which will make use of new possibilities concerning advice on energy savings (e.g. minimum-cost planning, taking external costs into account), as recommended in its abovementioned resolution of 12 November 1996;

19. Reminds the Commission that it should present a Communication on reducing stand-by losses as soon as possible;

20. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments of the Member States.