TRU, Alm.del - 2011-12 - Bilag 300: Concluding remarks - opsamling på det interparlamentariske møde den 26.

Ladies and gentlemen,Our meeting is coming to an end. Please, allow me to givea quick summary of the discussions we have had these lasttwo days.Most of yesterday was devoted to Energy Efficiency inProduction and Buildings.First, we heard views on the proposal for a new Directiveon Energy Efficiency – from the Danish Presidency, fromthe European Parliament as well as from nationalparliamentarians. There is no doubt that difficultnegotiations still lie ahead. However, it seems clear thatthere is a lot of potential – in terms of energy saving,growth and jobs – in an ambitious European instrument onenergy efficiency.The need for investment in energy was also important tothe representative from the private Energy Sector. TheDanish experience with early investment and regulation innew energy sources and energy saving tells a positive story

of how the private sector can - in the long run - profit frompublic regulation.We also had an interesting insight into the possibility ofconstructing houses in such a way that energy needs canbe reduced to a minimum. After all the cheapest energy isthe one you don’t use. Extra costs for energy saving housescan be as low as 12 %.I think one of the main lessons from the discussionyesterday is that even if it can be difficult for MemberStates to find resources for energy investments – inparticular at a time of economic crisis – most stakeholderscan agree that the cost of not investing in energy is muchhigher. And this is a price we would then pay in terms ofclimbing oil and gas prices as well as energy dependencyon countries outside the European Union.Yesterday evening and today the debate focused onEnergy Efficiency in Transports. Today’s discussions showthat we’re only in the early stages of this debate ontransport. We started yesterday with a visit to theEuropean Environment Agency. Here we heard – amongstother things - of positive the experiences with regulationon energy efficiency in road transport.

Today we have had a look into the future possibleregulation of transport in Europe.We were exposed ideas on how to achieve low carbontransport Europe. First and foremost we need toimplement already existing European legislation now thatpush to the technological development of more energyefficient cars and low carbon fuels. As planning within theenergy and transport sectors require long terminvestment, we also need to consider, if additionallegislation is needed especially within energy taxation.Secondly, a more efficient transport system in Europe canbe achieved through green logistics, eco driving and moreshifts between different modes of transportation, evendrivers education is important. Some considerations werevoiced on how to limit the need for transportation - forinstance through better urban planning that makes iteasier to grab a train or a bike than going by car.We also heard about initiatives to promote the use ofbikes and public transportation in Copenhagen thatsupport the urban life of the city. We even learned thatcitizens in Copenhagen will choose the bike in a snowblizzard.

And finally, we learned about our future vehicles from thecar manufacturing industry. We heard about thetechnological advance already made, and we heard theplea from the industry that operates on the European andglobal level for a reasonable, responsible and long termstrategy for transport in Europe.Ladies and gentlemen, we recognize the challenges and weknow how difficult it is to change energy and transporthabits. We also know how hard it is in our parliaments tofind support for investments in these sectors, especially inthe middle of an economic crisis. European financing isavailable for some trans border projects, but most of theinvestment have to be done on member state level. Howwe do this on a coordinated manner is surely a dauntingtask.None the less, future economic growth in Europe dependson a well functioning single market, where the energy andtransport sectors are the back bone. If we make smartinvestments today, it might save our children and grandchildren a lot of problems and help create newtechnologies and jobs in Europe. I think we need both. Ourdiscussion on biofuels demonstrates that we need todiscuss matter sin broader fora.

I will end my summary by saying that the major regulatoryframe work we must see to at the European level, butthere are also plenty to do on the national and local levels.And for that I feel that this meeting has contributed tosome exchange of best practices between us. WithoutEuropean regulation, we will not meet our reductiontargets.Finally, I would like to thank you again for a very fruitfulmeeting. I would like to thank all speakers and participantsin this meeting. And thanks to interpreters and staff.You have all contributed to making this meeting a success.