EU Directive on Energy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency Act

The Energy Efficiency Directive (EU)2023/1791 provides for energy efficiency targets at EU and national levels, a national energy saving obligation and measures to promote energy efficiency. 

The revised Energy Efficiency Directive (EU)2023/1791 entered into force on 10 October 2024. The earlier Energy Efficiency Directive (EU/27/2012) entered into force on 4 December 2012 and the amendments to it have been enacted in 2018 (EU) 2018/2002.

The Energy Efficiency Directive has been partially implemented by the Energy Efficiency Act (1429/2014), which entered into force on 1 January 2015. The energy efficiency contract system and other alternative measures, such as energy advice, also play an important role in the implementation of the directive.

Energy Efficiency Directive recast

As part of the 55-readiness package, the European Commission published a proposal for a revised Energy Efficiency Directive. The Council reached a general approach on 27 June 2022. The trilogue negotiations were concluded and the directive was approved by Council and Parliament votes in July 2023. The directive entered into force on 10 October 2023 and the deadline for implementation is 24 months.

The implementation of the Energy Efficiency Directive has been prepared by an intersectoral working group led by the Ministry. The most cost-effective and least administrative burden-increasing ways to implement the obligations of the Directive have been sought for implementation. According to the working group's final report, implementation can mainly be carried out by making extensive use of policy measures already in place, such as energy efficiency agreements. Some of the obligations require changes or additions to the legislation.

Further information: pia.kotro(at)gov.fi and asko.sinervo(at)gov.fi