By Martin Banks - 2nd February 2011
I fear this summit is moving in the wrong direction
Jo Leinen
The upcoming special summit of EU leaders and heads of state will be urged to give "fresh impetus" to meeting the EU's energy efficiency goals.
Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso told parliament on Wednesday the EU was some way short of meeting its objective of cutting energy consumption by 20 per cent by 2020.
Addressing a plenary sitting, he said that unless there was a major improvement member states would not meet the 2020 energy efficiency targets.
The summit in Brussels on Friday has been called to look at energy and innovation issues currently facing the EU.
Barroso said the EU was on track to meet its target for renewables to have a 20 per cent share of the energy mix by 2020.
But he added, "The same cannot be said for energy efficiency targets and that is why I will ask the summit to give fresh impetus to our objectives."
Barroso, who said that energy efficiency could lead to "real" economic gains and provide up to two million new jobs, said the commission will come forward shortly with a new "energy efficiency plan."
This, he told deputies, is likely to include new measures, possibly including legally-binding targets, aimed at ensuring the EU meets its objectives on energy efficiency.
Barroso told the plenary there was also a "desperately urgent" to boost research on innovation.
His concern was shared by several MEPs including UK ALDE member Fiona Hall who said, "The energy efficiency targets are a very long way from being achieved.
"That is why I hope this week's energy summit will give a bold commitment to get it back on course."
Meanwhile, Jo Leinen, a German Socialist member who chairs the environment committee, fears the summit will prove a "big disappointment" because it had been "poorly prepared."
Luxembourg Greens member Claude Turmes agreed, blaming both European council president Herman Van Rompuy and EU energy commissioner Gunther Oettinger.
