About EuroACE >> Our Goals >> Our Objectives 2004/05 >

Overview

The prime objective of EuroACE continues to be to increase the market size for its members' products. This is done by positioning energy-efficiency in buildings as the best and most cost-effective route for the EU to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to achieve security of energy supply (better than all other alternatives), and to lobby for specific legislative measures which will result in the increased uptake of energy-efficiency products.

During 2003/04, we successfully completed the majority of our objectives. These included – for the first time – work at Member State level which involved developing support mechanisms for the implementation of the Buildings Directive into national law in selected countries. We intend to extend this national focus during 2004/05, whilst still continuing to lobby at EU level for legislation and policies which will expand the market for our members’ products and services.

Early in the year, the EU will expand from 15 to 25 members, there will be Parliamentary elections and a new Commission will be appointed. The political landscape will therefore change substantially, and we must be ready to adapt. Our objectives for 2004/05 are set in this context, and our activities from now on should be seen as covering an EU of 25 Member States.

Objectives

1. Implementing the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

To continue to support the national groups already established (Italy, Spain, Ireland), and to develop new groups to encourage enhanced implementation of the Directive in Germany, Poland, Belgium and France.
To select an accession country which is an example of “best practice” in implementing the Directive, and to promote this to the remaining nine new Member States.
To maintain active involvement in the Article 14 committee so that it is effective in monitoring and encouraging full implementation by the Member States.

2. Energy calculation methodologies

To produce a comprehensive “map” of the network of committees involved in producing the CEN calculation methodology referred to in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, so as to maximise our information and co-ordinate our involvement.
At CEN “umbrella” level, to comment on, and influence, the development of the methodology.
To monitor the national methodologies being developed by individual Member States, and to react as necessary.

3. Energy Services Directive

To work closely with the Parliament’s rapporteur, and to lobby the EU institutions, so that substantial progress is made towards adopting a Directive that is as close as possible to the Commission’s draft of December 2003.
To prepare a document summarising how UK Energy Services legislation has been implemented and how it has affected the market, and to draw conclusions and recommendations that can be offered to other countries.

4. Netherlands government project on refurbishment of high-rise buildings

To actively participate in the Dutch VROM Ministry research project on the energy-efficient refurbishment of high-rise residential buildings in the new EU, and to ensure that the output gives not just technical solutions but proposals for government policies and the removal of market barriers.
To ensure that during its EU Presidency the Netherlands government presents the work at the EU Housing Ministers’ Conference, and makes a ministerial statement endorsing policies for high-rise refurbishment.

5. Exploitation of commissioned reports

To increase our communications activities – at both EU and Member State level – in order to promote and exploit the results of the Ecofys and Janssen reports, so that we lay the foundations for future beneficial policy change, including a successful revision of the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive.

6. The new and extended EU

To develop contacts, and establish good relationships, with the new Parliament and Commission, and to extend EuroACE’s profile, particularly with the representatives of the accession countries.

7. Value Added Tax on energy saving products

To lobby for a change in EU VAT policy which will allow Member States to charge VAT on energy saving products at the lowest permissible rate (5%).

8. Intelligent Energy Agency

To establish relationships with the newly-formed EU Intelligent Energy Agency, and to work with it to ensure it places appropriate emphasis on funding and promotion of energy-efficiency in buildings.