Brussels drops energy efficiency case against Greece

The European Commission has dropped a legal case against Greece that had been filed at a European court as a result of the country’s delay in complying with an older EU energy efficiency directive, the energy ministry announced today.

The directive had been issued in 2012 and needed to be adopted as national law by June 5, 2014. Despite the launch of public consultation procedures as preliminary action in the legislative process, the matter remained pending midway through 2015, prompting the European Commission to file a lawsuit against Greece. The EU executive body also threatened to impose a fine of 29,145.60 euros per day until Greece complied.

As stressed by Greece’s current environment and energy ministry, it took action shortly after the Syriza-led coalition was re-elected last September, which led to the needed legislation covering the energy efficiency directive last November.