Share this on social media
Brussels urges 27 to ‘make the most’ of energy efficiency funds
(EurActiv, 23 Apr 2021) The European commissioner for energy, Kadri Simson, said on Thursday (22 April) that member states should take advantage of the European Union’s historic €1.8 trillion budget and recovery fund to invest in energy efficiency.
“Now is the time to take advantage of the EU’s historical budget and recovery package” to invest in energy efficiency, Kadri Simson said at a joint press conference with Portugal’s environment minister João Pedro Matos Fernandes, which took place after an informal council of energy ministers.
“I am delighted to hear that energy efficiency is well represented in the drafts of the member states’ Recovery and Resilience Plans (RRP). As I emphasised to ministers, this must remain in the final plans across the EU,” Simson said, adding that “thousands of projects will see the light of day thanks to the recovery plans”.
Noting that “buildings account for 40% of total energy consumption” in the EU, the commissioner said that the “Renovation Wave” initiative, which aims to rehabilitate buildings in Europe, could “contribute significantly to achieving” the EU’s 2030 climate goals.
Earlier on Wednesday, EU negotiators struck a deal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 as part of a broader agreement on the European Climate Law.
External link
EurActiv, 23 Apr 2021: Brussels urges 27 to ‘make the most’ of energy efficiency funds
