The Energy Winter Package, the Energy Efficiency Policy, and the New Governance of the Energy Market

The so called “Winter Package” published at the end of November 2016 is the last step in the ongoing evolution in the EU energy policy and market regulation. It includes some proposals to amend the Directive 27 of 2012 on the energy efficiency policy. Nonetheless the recent document which emphasises the value and the relevant role of the energy efficiency is the Energy Union Package (2015). In this context the energy efficiency is defined as an “energy autonomous source” and a key driver of energy security as well. By means of the measures of the Winter Package the European Commission tries to “lead” the transition towards a clean energy era and launches the principle “Energy Efficiency first”. All in all energy efficiency policies are embodied in a string of measures producing important consequences on energy regulation and governance. Hence the WP promotes the adoption of a regulation on “Governance of the Energy Union”, a sort of ‘tool box’ aimed at increasing the coherence of different policies and redefining the relationships between the governmental levels. The paper will try to assess whether and how the scheme of the new governance and especially the defined relationships between Brussels and Member States can succeed and achieve the most relevant objectives of the EU energy efficiency policy.