REEF

The 2023 Energy Efficiency Directive (2023 EED) integrates the concept of Energy Efficiency First (EE1st). It requires policymakers to evaluate benefits of reducing energy consumption, instead of focusing on supply-side resources.

With limited time to meet 2030 EU Green Deal targets, policy makers must encourage measures that limit energy production to what is needed and reduce/manage energy demand. Implementation of the EE1st principle is urgent, but not simple.

The 2023 EED sets requirements for national level. Yet, there is also a role for regional and local policy makers, with the EU EE1st Guidelines underlining that sub-national decision makers are closest to implementation. At territorial level, all decisions on expenditures, incentives, permission and localisation of investments, planning and financing of public services and procurement should now integrate EE1st. Local and regional authorities need long-term foresight mechanisms to implement EE1st in climate / green growth planning cycles.

REEF steps into to this context, with the overall aim to support public authorities at local and regional level to apply the principle of EE1st across relevant policy areas, thus contributing to achieving climate targets.

Partners from the EU and 2 EU candidate countries use interregional and regional learning to assess barriers to application of the EE1st principle and to consider how these could be addressed.

They consider experience and good practices related to:
- capacity and understanding
- EE1st assessment tools
- integration of EE1st into the wider policy context
- incentives, funding and financial support.

In this way, they help to make policy change a reality, using interregional learning to adapt existing policy instruments (ERDF OP, Development Strategies and Local Energy and Climate Plans) with elements to support application of the EE1st principle. REEF provides a practical contribution to Green Deal objectives and revised energy efficiency targets.