Irish Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe has welcomed the increase in legally binding energy efficiency targetsproposed today by the European Commission with its REPowerEU Plan. However, MEP Cuffe alsocriticised the introduction of €10 billion in subsidies for fossil fuel and liquefied natural gas (LNG)infrastructure in the plan.Ciarán Cuffe, Green MEP for Dublin, said:“The energy efficiency target increase from 9% to 13% announced today will be a critical tool todecrease our dependence on Russian energy imports. More insulated homes means less energy demandin Europe, lower energy bills for our citizens, and less dependence on Russia as it wages war,” saidMEP Cuffe. “However, investing €10 billion in heavily polluting and subsidised industries should bereconsidered. Diverting these funds towards renewable energy would offer more protection to hard-pressed households with high energy bills against the volatility we are seeing in oil and gas prices.”MEP Cuffe adds that the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is anopportunity to directly implement elements of the REPowerEU plan in legislation. MEP Cuffe isparliament’s lead negotiator on this revision.“We can implement REPowerEU’s solar energy strategy and the EU Save plan in the EPBD revision,”said MEP Cuffe. “Revised energy efficiency targets and regulatory measures in EU legislation will beessential for this. These will ensure the EPBD is updated in line with the new geopolitical context andcan effectively address other challenges, such as high fossil fuel prices.”