The European Council adopted a regulation on energy efficiency labelling, which allows customers to be more aware of the energy efficiency and energy consumption of household appliances, thus helping them to reduce their energy costs, and contributing to the moderation on energy demand.

EU ministers for transport, infrastructure, and communications met in Luxembourg yesterday and reached a general approach on two proposals under the Clean Energy package: the revised directives on energy efficiency and on energy performance of buildings. During a doorstep comment before the Energy Council, Minister for Energy and Water Management Joe Mizzi said that this council is the last one held during the Maltese Presidency, but his first one as Energy Minister. 

The Council also reached a general approach on a proposal for a revised directive on energy performance of buildings. Its aim is to promote energy efficiency in buildings and to support cost-effective building renovation with a view to the long term goal of decarbonising the highly inefficient existing European building stock.

After a lengthy discussion and exchange of views, Minister Joe Mizzi said he is pleased to note that the Council managed to agree on its position on the energy efficiency directive, establishing headline targets of 30% EU energy efficiency target and an energy savings obligation of 1.5%, decreasing to 1% for the period 2026-2030, unless the Commission mid-term review in 2024 concludes that the EU is not on track to meet its targets.

“We are very proud of securing these Council positions, which send a signal to the public that the Council is taking its energy and climate goals commitments seriously and is ready to engage in negotiations with the European Parliament as soon as possible. Both legislative acts will shape the energy efficiency measures which member states will take in the coming decade and beyond,” Minister Joe Mizzi said yesterday.

The Council also took note of the note of the progress report on the legislative files under the Clean Energy package regarding in particular the internal market for electricity, governance, and energy from renewable sources.

The ministers acknowledged the importance of this legislation and the need to make progress as fast as possible, but also stressed that, given the far-reaching implications of the proposals, an in-depth examination was necessary.