The first “stepping stone” along the way is, unequivocally, energy saving. The new policy declares that the EU shall start “today” a process that will lead it to become the world’s most energy efficient region. Energy efficiency will improve by at least one-fifth by 2020, by implementing the 75-point Action Plan launched last autumn by EC President Jose Barroso. The Action Plan is described as “one of the highest political priorities”.

Adopting a common energy policy is a new venture for Europe, a process set in train during the UK six month Presidency in 2005. In an echo of the UK’s 2003 Energy White Paper, it promises a “step change” in energy saving – describing improved energy efficiency as having the “potential to make the strongest contribution to achieving the core objectives of sustainability, competitiveness and security of supply.” Significantly, given its previous totemic status, the policy paper concedes that carbon trading “cannot achieve the transition to a low carbon economy alone.”
The policy paper stresses the urgency of addressing energy saving, as “every inefficient piece of equipment installed will generate a legacy that will waste citizens’ incomes, reduce EU competitiveness and make our climate change commitments increasingly difficult to achieve”.
Amongst other initiatives proposed is to triple the proportion of renewable energy by 2020, the creation of a new pan-European energy regulator to ensure consistency across borders, and a new Office of the Energy Observatory, to monitor progress for the heads of governments.

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