In a statement, the European Commission announced that only the Czech Republic has correctly transposed the European directive adopted in 2023.
The 27 countries of the European politico-economic bloc had until October this year to inform the European Commission that they had properly implemented the rules which strengthen the requirement for energy efficiency, aiming for an 11.7% reduction in consumption by 2030, based on projections made in 2020.
The European directive also requires public sectors to “lead by example” and reduce energy consumption by about 1.9% annually.
However, the countries have yet to confirm to the European Commission that they have taken the necessary measures to correctly apply this directive and incorporate it into national legislation.
Each member state has two months to respond to the European Commission. If the response is unsatisfactory, the Commission may issue a reasoned opinion and ultimately bring the countries before the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU).
Ursula von der Leyen’s executive also demanded that Portugal and 14 other countries, including Germany and Spain, transpose the European directive updating the list of raw materials used in industrial processes to create biofuels.
Once again, the European Commission gives each country two months to rectify the delay of a directive that should already have been incorporated into national laws by September this year.
If they do not comply within the stipulated timeframe, the European politico-economic executive may issue a reasoned opinion and, as a last resort, take Portugal and the other non-compliant countries to court.
