Energy Efficiency: Implementation Appraisal

Briefing 19-06-2015

There has been a renewed focus on energy, and on better energy integration, reflected in the European Commission’s work programme which list ‘a resilient Energy Union with a forward-looking climate change policy’, as one of its top ten priorities. The Energy Union strategy comprises five inter-related strands that will work to increase the Union’s energy security, sustainability and competitiveness: 1) Energy security, solidarity and trust; 2) A fully integrated European energy market; 3) Energy efficiency contributing to moderation of demand; 4) Decarbonising the economy, and 5) Research, Innovation and Competitiveness While all five areas are closely interlinked, this briefing will primarily focus on the area of energy efficiency. This briefing is one in a series of 'Implementation Appraisals' on the operation of existing EU legislation in practice. Each such briefing focuses on a specific EU law which is likely to be amended or reviewed as set out in the European Commission’s Annual Work Programme. The Implementation Appraisal aim to provide a succinct overview of material publicly available on the implementation, application and effectiveness of an EU law to date - drawing on available input from the EU institutions and external organisations.