The goal is to decouple growth from energy use, says the commission. Improving efficiency in all sectors of the EU economy would "significantly help limit emissions and boost economic growth". There is no mention of non-energy resources.

Priorities at EU level would be to "provide a framework for the use of market-based instruments" and table legislative proposals to decarbonise the transport and energy sectors. At national level, member states would phase out harmful subsidies.

Under a separate "clean and efficient energy" initiative, the EU would also set up a roadmap for low-carbon energy systems by 2050, adopt a revised efficiency action plan and launch a clean vehicle initiative announced by Antonio Tajani on Friday.

Green group EEB has written to commissioner José Manuel Barroso, urging him to make "substantial improvements" to the draft strategy. The resource efficiency initiative is "not supported by any specific proposals", says the NGO. EEB calls for an annual 3% target for efficiency improvement.

Another omission in the draft document is the EU's conditional 30% emission reduction target for 2020. There is also no reference to the importance of biodiversity, a point also raised by other stakeholders, and to funds for improving energy efficiency, EEB adds.

The commission has already been criticised for showing little ambition to develop a truly green growth strategy. WWF has deplored its "lack of precision in the language, in what is the real definition of smarter, greener growth". The 2020 strategy is expected to be published on 3 March.