Not meeting the deadline for submitting plans to Brussels seems to have become a habit. But in this particular case, I ask myself: Is it lack of interest? Or do these governments like provoking the European Commission every once in a while?

Let me present you my theory: Many EU countries are not very challenged by the targets described in the energy efficiency directive from the European Commission. For most countries, it is not hard to write an action plan, as they already have energy efficiency policies. For them, achieving 9% energy savings before 2015 is a piece of cake, particularly considering the opportunities to include actions already achieved in the 9%. They just have to copy and paste their existing plans, compare them with EU figures and that’s it.

But that is exactly what is wrong, and that’s why countries did not meet their deadlines: there was no satisfaction lying ahead.

In this sense, the energy efficiency plans agreed in the current Energy Efficiency Directive badly need updating. I hope that the next set of Action Plans, mandatory in 2011, will breathe more ambitions. So that the Member States will be challenged again to meet their deadlines, or, even more important, to show the right compassion.

Have a nice Summer holiday.

Rolf de Vos

Editor-in-chief

GreenPrices News Desk