EU stammers over energy targets

• Tweet

BRUSSELS, June 15 (UPI) -- The EU energy commissioner welcomed an agreement on energy efficiency though one lawmaker complained the measure fell short.

The European Union adopted a measure that makes energy efficiency and consumption mandatory. The measures, however, falls short of 20 percent targets for efficiency by 2020.

EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger hailed the measure given its legally binding status.

"The measures will reduce our energy bill while generating further growth and jobs," he said in a statement. "They stimulate investments and make our energy using products more efficient."

Claude Turmes, a green energy supporter and European parliamentarian from Luxembourg, told news service EurActiv, however, the agreement was modestly disappointing.

He said he lamented the fact that agreements reached by European members of Parliament fell short of the 20 percent goals.

"Unfortunately, EU governments were not willing to agree to more ambitious measures, which would have fully delivered the 20 percent target," he said.