The European Parliament has adopted a report that claims that the Commission recognizes as legally binding the target of getting a saving objective of 20% by 2020. Also, this report proposes to follow the national action plans of Member States, to introduce energy efficiency standards in public procurement procedures and to support the compulsory use of smart energy meters.

According to the report, the European Union wastes more than 20 % of its energy due to inefficiency and, if the saving objective of 20 % were met, the EU would use about 400 Mtoe (million tonnes of oil equivalent) less primary energy and the CO2 emissions reduction would be about 860Mt.

The report, adopted with 616 votes in favour, 24 against and 17 abstentions, asks the Commission to regulate legally the saving objective of 20% by 2020 and to encourage Member States to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases.
 
In order to meet the targets set for 2020, Member States are required to submit their National Energy Efficiency Action Plans. This pretends to eliminate the delays in presentation and the gaps in the content of some of these plans, which could put the objectives of environmental protection at risk.

Moreover, MEPs call on Member States to increase their level of ambition by going beyond the national indicative energy saving target of 9% by 2016, and to expose their intermediate aims to the Commission.

Measures to improve energy efficiency

The European Parliament wants to prioritize the use of “green” products in public works, and to support the compulsory use of smart energy meters in the next ten years.

In view of the fact that rising energy prices can lead to poverty, Member States are encouraged to include appropriate financial instruments for energy saving in their national action plans, and to develop long-term energy efficiency awareness campaigns as a matter of urgency.
 
Looking to alternative energy sources, Member States are "encouraged" to make substantial use of renewable energy such as wind, biomass, biofuels and also wave and tidal energy, where posible.