The European Fund for Strategic Investments provides an opportunity to leverage major investments in renovating buildings.

12. Recalls in particular the energy saving potential of public buildings and housing, which represent 40 % of the Union’s final energy consumption, and urges Member States to swiftly adopt long-term strategies beyond 2020 for mobilising investment in the renovation of residential and commercial buildings with a view to improving the energy performance of the building stock, as required by Directive 2012/27/EU;

Bearing in mind that the Council conclusions of 10 June 2011 on the Energy Efficiency Plan 2011 stressed that buildings represent 40 % of the Union’s final energy consumption, and in order to capture the growth and employment opportunities in the skilled trades and construction sectors, as well as in the production of construction products and in professional activities such as architecture, consultancy and engineering, Member States should establish a long-term strategy beyond 2020 for mobilising investment in the renovation of resid ...[+++]ential and commercial buildings with a view to improving the energy performance of the building stock.

Bearing in mind that the Council conclusions of 10 June 2011 on the Energy Efficiency Plan 2011 stressed that buildings represent 40 % of the Union’s final energy consumption, and in order to capture the growth and employment opportunities in the skilled trades and construction sectors, as well as in the production of construction products and in professional activities such as architecture, consultancy and engineering, Member States should establish a long-term strategy beyond 2020 for mobilising investment in the renovation of resid ...[+++]ential and commercial buildings with a view to improving the energy performance of the building stock.

35. Recalls the existing assessments which indicate that improving energy efficiency and reducing energy use by 20 % compared to 2020 projections is not currently on track; calls for rapid action, greater ambition and stronger political commitment in terms of achieving the 2020 targets and looking beyond 2020, thus attracting appropriate investment; endorses the conclusion in the Commission’s roadmap that energy efficiency policies are key to further reducing carbon emissions; considers, therefore, that binding targets should not be excluded; stresses that energy efficiency measures lead to job creation, economic savings, and increased security of supply and competitiveness; welcomes in this regard the priorities set by the proposed En ...[+++]ergy Efficiency Directive for increasing energy efficiency in all sectors, and particularly in buildings through the renovation of existing building stock, focusing on a target for the renovation of public buildings; calls for an increase in resources and measures to mobilise new sources of funding at European and national level, including through new financing instruments; highlights the importance of private investment in order to overcome the current budgetary constraints in the public sector;

34. Recalls the existing assessments which indicate that improving energy efficiency and reducing energy use by 20 % compared to 2020 projections is not currently on track; calls for rapid action, greater ambition and stronger political commitment in terms of achieving the 2020 targets and looking beyond 2020, thus attracting appropriate investment; endorses the conclusion in the Commission's roadmap that energy efficiency policies are key to further reducing carbon emissions; considers, therefore, that binding targets should not be excluded; stresses that energy efficiency measures lead to job creation, economic savings, and increased security of supply and competitiveness; welcomes in this regard the priorities set by the proposed En ...[+++]ergy Efficiency Directive for increasing energy efficiency in all sectors, and particularly in buildings through the renovation of existing building stock, focusing on a target for the renovation of public buildings; calls for an increase in resources and measures to mobilise new sources of funding at European and national level, including through new financing instruments; highlights the importance of private investment in order to overcome the current budgetary constraints in the public sector;