EUSEW 2012: Energy Efficiency in Buildings – Quizzing the Stakeholders

There is increasing awareness about the challenges and benefits of undertaking energy efficiency measures in buildings but perceptions vary when it comes to understanding the drivers that lead organizations and companies to take concrete action.

The European Parliament wants new measures to reduce water consumption in the EU. But these measures must be country and sector specific, says Richard Seeber, the EPP Group's Coordinator in Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee.

The recent EU Summit was not the much-hyped "breakthrough that opened up a way out of the crisis", GUE/NGL President Gabi Zimmer told the European Parliament today.

"The EU, the Member States, and the Eurozone remain in crisis because priorities have not changed. We stick to the failed programmes of neoliberal deregulation, the privatization of public services and goods, and social security cuts."

"It is clear that Danish presidency promises to bring back growth and jobs to Europe were not fulfilled either for the short or long term - quite the contrary" GUE/NGL MEP Søren Søndergaard said in a stock-taking debate on Denmark's presidency in the European Parliament this morning.

How can the citizen have more of a voice in European affairs? This was the question considered at a conference organised by Toute l’Europe in cooperation with ECAS on 29 June in Paris and attended by 100 participants (program of the conference).