In its plenary vote 5th February 2014 on the Climate and Energy Policies' 2030 Report (Delvaux/Szymanski), the European Parliament put its full weight behind the ITRE-ENVI Report calling for a binding 40% Energy Efficiency Target. This binding target  should be in line with research on cost-effective energy saving potential.  In particular the energy efficiency target needs to be implemented by means of individual national targets taking into account the individual situation and potential of each Member State. As stressed in the Resolution the cheapest energy is energy that is never used. In this connection increased energy efficiency should be seen as one of the cornerstones of the EU's climate and energy policy.  The EU Parliament is convinced that energy efficiency helps to conserve resources, to reduce energy bills, energy dependence on imported fuels, trade deficits and health impacts, and to improve the long-term international competitiveness of the EU economy, as well as facilitating the reduction of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions. Read the full text of this EU Parliament Resolution.

The EU Parliament's positioning is remarkable since only a few days before the EU Commission in its Policy Framework report (22th January 2014) for climate and energy 2030 did not set any targets on energy efficiency. Report EU Commission Climate and Energy 2030.