HALL WINS EFFICIENCY DEAL ON EUROPEAN ENERGY PROGRAMME FOR RECOVERY

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 16th Apr 2009

Some of the €5 billion earmarked for the European Energy Programme for Recovery (EERP) could now be spent on energy efficiency projects, following a deal secured by MEPs this morning.

The European Parliament had backed a proposal to spend €500 million on energy efficiency, as included in an early legislative draft from the Commission but later dropped under pressure from national governments.

Said North East Lib Dem MEP Fiona Hall, who represented the Liberal group in the final stage of the negotiations:

"Clearly the European Parliament would have liked to have seen €500 million available for energy efficiency from the beginning - because energy efficiency projects can be started immediately, put money back into people's pockets and create thousands of jobs."

At first the Czech Presidency was very unwilling to reopen the text, having got agreement on the plan from national leaders at the March summit, but Fiona is pleased that MEPs managed to secure a deal this morning.

"If agreed priority projects cannot be implemented on time then the Commission is to recommend additional projects consistent with the recovery plan," she said. "This, combined with strengthened references to the important role of energy efficiency, looks set to secure some recovery plan money for energy efficiency projects from March 2010."

The Czech Presidency is now taking the deal to Member States for approval.

"I trust that the UK will not stand in the way of today's agreement. Shamefully, Labour was opposed to energy efficiency projects being included in the recovery plan - despite the fact that Margaret Beckett admits that only 1% of British homes is efficient enough to prevent fuel poverty," said Fiona.

"Here in the North East, lack of funds puts a real brake on how much energy efficiency work can be done. I hope today's deal is one step towards making every North East home a warm home."