Decision (EU) 2019/504 on amending Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency and Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on the governance of the Energy Union and climate action

Summary:

Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2019 on amending Directive 2012/27/EU (the Energy Efficiency Directive) and Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 (the Governance Regulation) in the context of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union.

Further information:

Directive 2012/27/EU sets a Union energy efficiency target of at least 32.5% for 2030 and requires Member States to set indicative national energy efficiency contributions. In so doing the Member States should take into account the Union's 2030 energy consumption. Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 requires Member States, in their contribution setting process for the Union 2030 target for energy efficiency, to take into account the Union's 2030 energy consumption.

The technical adaptation of the legislation results from the fact that the energy efficiency targets are based on EU28 energy consumption figures. Due to the UK's withdrawal from the Union, it is necessary to adapt these consumption figures to reflect the EU27. As the Regulation repeats the absolute values of the Directive, those values need to be amended accordingly. This does not affect the political agreement reached in June 2018 on the EU's energy efficiency targets.

Energy consumption at Union level is also relevant for the European Commission's assessment of progress towards collectively achieving the Union's targets. Due to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom, the Union's energy consumption figures for 2030 need to be adjusted to the situation of 27 Member States.

The proposed technical amendment was presented by the Commission on 13 November 2018 alongside a Communication on preparedness for a UK withdrawal without an agreement between the two sides.

Official

EUR-Lex: COM(2018)744: Proposal for a Decision on adapting Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency and Regulation (EU) 2018/XXX on governance of the Energy Union https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2018:744:FIN

European Commission: Press Release, 13/11/2018: European Commission proposes to make technical amendments to EU energy efficiency legislation to take account of UK's withdrawal http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-6406_en.htm

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