With effective implementation of policies to overcome these barriers, energy efficiency improvements can make a very substantial contribution to achieving the EU's objectives. for example, if the reduction in energy consumption among final users targeted in the Directive on energy end-use efficiency and energy services could be achieved, the CO2 savings in 2020 would be 393 Mt, as compared to a business-as-usual scenario (For more details, see Annex 1).

BP. whereas the Commission stated in its Energy Roadmap 2050 that upgrading the grid is unavoidable and, more importantly, that the cost will be the same no matter which future energy scenario is chosen, even if it is decided to follow the business-as-usual scenario; whereas it is consequently essential to develop a smart, interconnected grid and to choose a scenario based on renewable energy and energy efficiency, as this is the only way to achieve the goals of sustainability, competitiveness, energy independence, energy security and affordable energy prices;

3. Calls on the European Union and Member States more consistently to take steps to develop towards the most energy-efficient economy in order to actively contribute to the achievement of the 2°C climate objective; calls on the European Union and Member States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 to 80% by 2050; calls on the Commission to draw up possible energy scenarios, in consultation with all the stakeholders, illustrating ways in which these objectives may be reached and setting out the underlying technical and economic hypotheses; considers the greenhouse gas emissions trading system to be insufficient to guarantee attainme ...[+++]nt of the targets set;

2. Reaffirms the threefold objective set for 2020 of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, and 30% in the case of an international agreement, reducing energy consumption by at least 20% and attaining at least a 20% share for renewables in final energy consumption; calls on the European Union and Member States to become the most energy-efficient economy in order to actively contribute to the achievement of the 2°C climate objective; calls on the European Union and the Member States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 % by 2050; calls on the Commission, in consultation with stakeholders, to draw up possible energy scenarios, illustrating ways ...[+++]in which these objectives may be reached and setting out the underlying technical and economic hypotheses;

2. Reaffirms the threefold objective set for 2020 of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, and 30% in the case of an international agreement, reducing energy consumption by at least 20% and attaining at least a 20% share for renewables in final energy consumption; calls on the European Union and Member States to become the most energy-efficient economy in order to actively contribute to the achievement of the 2°C climate objective; calls on the European Union and the Member States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 to 80 % by 2050; calls on the Commission to draw up possible energy scenarios, in consultation with all the sta ...[+++]keholders, illustrating ways in which these objectives may be reached and setting out the underlying technical and economic hypotheses;

13. Welcomes the agreement between Russian Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko and Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs on restructuring the EU-Russia Energy Dialogue thematic groups; notes that the new groups will address such issues as (i) energy strategies, forecasts and scenarios, (ii) market developments and (iii) energy as well as talks on the setting-up of an early warning mechanism for energy crises;