However, EU officials are reluctant to agree because they fear it might damage the overall energy and climate package. Campaigners and industry have described the reluctance to embrace ambitious savings goals as "bonkers." Compared to the attention given to cutting carbon or investing in renewable, energy efficiency has long been the Cinderella of the EU's climate and energy policies.
However, the crises in the Crimea and Ukraine earlier this year have pushed energy savings up the political ladder. Several governments are now pushing for a tough target, as they believe it will help them to limit their dependence on Russia.
However, there has been strong resistance to upping the savings goal. Energy suppliers are reluctant to push for a policy that would cut demand for their product.
Nevertheless, concern has also been raised that if this higher level of efficiency happened, it would have a negative effect on the EU's flagship plan for cutting carbon, the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
The ETS is aimed at power producers and big industry, and forces them to pay permits to emit carbon. The worry is that if efficiency helped countries achieve their binding goals in reducing emissions, there would be no incentive to trade and the ETS might collapse.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
