Investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy for housing

Speech by Fiona on Wed 1st Apr 2009

Madam President, time and time again discussion on energy efficiency has focused on the fact that much more could be achieved - and quickly - if only up-front funding was available. That is why it is so important to allow ERDF funding to be spent on energy efficiency, not only in the EU-12 but also in the EU-15.

Despite considerable progress, the UK Housing Minister has admitted that only one per cent of the current housing stock is energy-efficient enough to prevent fuel poverty. In my own region, North-East England, 1 in 10 homes has been labelled a category one health hazard because they are so cold and draughty.

So I welcome this change and urge all Member States and regions to take full advantage of the new flexibility. In the interests of tackling climate change, fuel poverty, unemployment and energy security, and like Mrs Ţicău, I urge the Commission to raise the current percentage limits considerably higher in due course, as the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy called for in its vote on the recast on Tuesday.