SECTION: Opinions
Our opinions
Energie-Cités regularly publishes opinions on the various Community legislative documents in relation with its fields of action. Whereas a municipality alone has little influence, Energie-Cités is able to combine the forces of all to take more appropriate action. These publications enable towns and cities to be represented at European level and to get their opinion across. Municipalities can therefore make a useful contribution to the development of local sustainable energy policies.
The promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources
The Proposal for a Directive aims to establish an overall binding target of a 20% share of renewable energy sources in energy consumption and a 10% binding minimum target for biofuels in transport to be achieved by each Member State, as well as binding national targets by 2020 in line with the overall EU target of 20%.
Proposal for a Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (in all languages)
Recasting of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
The European Commission launched a public consultation on the recasting of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2002/91/EC).
The consultation will help the Commission gain input on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive from interested parties through an online questionnaire and thus enable it to better develop the new proposal.
Towards a new culture for urban mobility
In September 2007, the European Commission published a Green Paper. The question is: does this Green Paper go far enough? Are the proposals it contains aligned with the EU “3x20” objectives and will they – under their current definition – help the EU and its citizens tackle the energy and climate change challenges they are to face by 2020 and beyond? Current trends in the transport sector lead us to fear that this will not be the case!
The green paper "Towards a new culture for urban mobility"
Growing Regions, Growing Europe: Fourth report on economic and social cohesion
The public consultation was launched by DG Regional Policy on how the EU cohesion policy should adapt to new challenges and how its delivery can be improved in order to maximise its impact in the future.
Growing Regions, Growing Europe: Fourth report on economic and social cohesion (in all languages)
Green Paper on Adaptation to Climate Change in Europe
This Green paper examines climate change impacts in Europe, the case for action and policy responses in the EU.
Energie-Cités welcomes this initiative starting of a European debate on the issue involving the local stakeholders.
Read the opinion
Green paper on adaptation (in all languages)
Leipzig Charter on Sustainable Cities
This charter is a document of the Member States, which has been drawn up with the broad and transparent participation of European Stakeholders. In the Knowledge of the challenges and opportunities as well as the different historical, economical, social and environmental backgrounds of European cities, the Member States’ Ministers responsible for Urban Development agree upon common principles and strategies for urban development policy.
Energie-Cités Opinion
Call for local authorities - Brasov resolution
In March 2007, Energie-Cités warmly welcomed the decisions of the European Council. Today, Energie-Cités calls the local authorities to commit themselves to reach the EU energy and climate objectives. To reach these objectifs, Energie-Cités is launching a call to local authorities to create a voluntary movement with all local stakeholders within their territories to imagine their energy future in this new context.
European Council - Presidency Conclusions, 8-9 March 2007 (en) - PDF
Conseil Européen - Conclusions de la Présidence, 8-9 mars 2007 (fr) - PDF
For more information : Gérard Magnin
Promotion of Heating and Cooling from Renewable Energies
The European Commission has launched this public consultation to contribute to the Impact Assessment by providing a range of opinions and new and innovative ideas regarding the implementation and the impacts of different types of policies and measures that could be considered to promote heating and cooling from renewable energy sources.
This consultation offers the opportunity to Energie-Cités to define its opinion on this topic.
Energie-Cités Opinion:
Second « Intelligent Energy - Europe » Programme 2007-2013
The contribution of Energie-Cités could guide the Commission to determine the overall objectives of SAVE (energy efficiency in buildings and industry), ALTENEER (new and renewable energy sources) and STEER (energy aspect in transport) which will continue in IEE-II.
Energie-Cités Opinion:
Energie-Cités requests the Commission a communication
Energie-Cités requests the Commission a communication on the role of local and regional authorities. At the latest Board of directors meeting in Heidelberg (DE) on the 22nd of June 2006, the Board adopted a declaration concerning the role of local and regional authorities in European energy policy. This declaration recommends that all local actors from all levels of society be involved. It constitutes our lobby direction for the coming year.
The Heidelberg declaration:
Contact: Gérard MAGNIN
Energie-Cités’ opinion on cohesion policy and cities
The European Commission DG REGIO published on 23rd November 2005 a Commission staff working document entitled “Cohesion Policy and cities: the urban contribution to growth and jobs in the regions”. As this document mentions, among others, the energy efficiency, renewable energies and transport issues, Energie-Cités prepared a related opinion which has just been published.
Energie-Cités’ opinion:
Working paper of the European Commission:
Contact: Blandine PIDOUX
Green Paper on Energy Efficiency - June 2005
This initiative allows energy efficiency to be on the agenda of community concerns at the same time as energy prices continue to increase and the effects of climate change become felt more and more. Through the advice given by their board of directors, Energie-Cités is actively participating in the debate following the release of the Green Paper . A number of points still need to be improved to ensure that energy efficiency remains at the heart of the Lisbon Strategy and that the pivotal role of local authorities is recognised.
The Green Paper:
Energie-Cités’Opinion:
With the supported of EU networks, local authorities are ready to do more to improve energy efficiency. We offer to be partners in reaching the ambitious 20% reduction objective.
Here is the letter from EU mayors to the European Commission:
Eight messages for the G8 and European Union
A call from local governments. The next G8 meeting will take place in July in Gleneagles in Scotland. Climate will be on the agenda of the meeting. Before that, the Energy and Environment Ministers, as well as the European Commissioners, met on 15th -16th March in London.
In order to prepare these events and promote local authorities as Climate Protection partners, a document entitled "8 messages for the G8" was prepared by the Local Government Association (GB), the Council of European Municipalities and Regions-CEMR/Conseil des Communes et Régions d’Europe-CCRE, ICLEI, Climate Alliance and Energie-Cités.
Energie-Cités Document:
Integration of support programmes to energy efficiency
The European Commission has launched a Consultation relative to the integration of support programmes to energy efficiency (EIE Programme) in the Competitiveness and Innovative Programme (CIP), this one being integrated in the Lisbon process. This consultation offers the opportunity to Energie-Cités to define its opinion on the relationships between Sustainable energy, Competitiveness and Innovation.
Consultation document:
Energie-Cités Opinion:
Directive on Energy Efficiency Services
Promoting energy services is an important element for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This will be promoted through the planned Directive on "Energy Demand Management and Energy Efficiency Services" (Directive on "energy services"), which is intended to develop and encourage energy efficiency on the demand side, in particular that provided by utilities and related service companies in the form of energy services.
Proposal for a Directive:
Energie-Cités Opinion:
Towards a thematic strategy on the urban environment
The European Commission formally adopted, on 11th February 2004, the Communication "Towards a thematic strategy on the urban environment". Urban issues were completely forgotten by the Commission during its presentation of the 6th Environment Action Plan in 2001. The Communication sets out the major problems and challenges facing Europe’s towns and cities: sustainable urban management, sustainable urban transport, sustainable construction and sustainable urban design.
Communication:
Energie-Cités Opinion:
Green Paper - 2002
The Green Paper "Towards a European strategy for the security of energy supply in Europe", published in 2002, gives a clear priority to energy efficiency and renewables. Although it is not a legislative document, it is accepted by the main actors as a reference for all energy related actions.
Green paper - unabridged version:
Green paper - Final report:
Opinion of Energie-Cités:
Common rules for the internal markets in electricity and natural gas
The amended "Directives concerning common rules for the internal markets in electricity and natural gas", adopted in June 2003, organise the future framework of electricity and gas, making all European consumers eligible, from 2004 onwards and at the latest by 2007 for the domestic sector, as well as integrating some components related to general interest services.
Electricity Directive:
Gas Directive:
Opinion of Energie-Cités:
Promotion of Electricity from Renewable Sources of Energy
The "Directive on the Promotion of Electricity from Renewable Sources of Energy in the Internal Electricity Market" was adopted in September 2001. Its purpose is to promote an increase in the contribution of renewable energy sources to electricity production in the internal market for electricity and to create a basis for a future Community framework.
Renewables Directive:
Opinion of Energie-Cités:
Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings
The "Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings" adopted in December 2002, recognised that more than 40% of EU energy consumption is in the building sector and that there is a powerful incentive to propose a coherent package of measures to improve energy efficiency in this sector.
Buildings Directive:
Opinion of Energie-Cités:
Directive on the promotion of cogeneration
The "Directive on the promotion of cogeneration based on a useful heat demand in the internal energy market" should be adopted very soon. The initial aim of the Directive is to strengthen existing measures to promote CHP in line with the Community target of doubling the share of CHP in EU electricity generation from 9% in 1994 to 18% by 2010. But no target has been mentioned.
Proposal for a Cogeneration Directive:
Opinion of Energie-Cités:
Directive for the setting of Eco-design requirements
The draft framework "Directive for the setting of Eco-design requirements for Energy-Using products", published on 1st august 2003 aims at improving the performance of energy-using products, taking into account the fact that the production, distribution, use and end of life management of products is associated with a considerable number of important impacts on the environment (such as climate change linked to energy consumption).
For instance, Energy Star is a label that helps consumers identify office equipment products that save them money and help protect the environment by saving energy.
Proposal for an Eco-design Directive: