IP/07/1525

Brussels, 17 October 2007

Energy Performance of Buildings: Commission takes legal action against France and Latvia

The European Commission sent today a Reasoned Opinion – the last step before referral to the Court of Justice – to France and Latvia for failure to notify whether they implemented the measures required by the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive^[1]. The measures in question should have been transposed by 4 January 2006. The aim of the Directive is to significantly reduce energy consumption in buildings, one of the cornerstones in mitigating climate change.

France and Latvia were issued letters of Formal Notice, urging them to notify the appropriate legislative measures to implement the Directive in 2006. To date the Commission has not received all the necessary evidence to conclude that the two countries have implemented the required measures.

The Directive requires Member States to establish minimum energy performance standards and energy performance certification schemes for buildings, as well as to ensure that heating and air conditioning installations are regularly inspected to enable performance improvements.

The building sector is responsible for 40% of Europe's total energy consumption. If implemented in full and on time, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive could contribute significantly to reducing energy consumption. The buildings sector has an energy saving potential of almost 30%.

In March 2007 European Heads of State agreed on an energy package stressing the need to increase energy efficiency in the EU to save 20 % of the EU's energy consumption by 2020, as proposed in the Commission's Energy Efficiency Action Plan of 2006. Full implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is undoubtedly one of the most cost-effective means to achieve this goal.

^[1] Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 on the energy performance of buildings, Official Journal L 001, 04/01/2003 P. 0065 – 0071