No L 335/50 Official Journal of the European Communities 24. 12. 96 COUNCIL DECISION of 16 December 1996 concerning a multiannual programme for the promotion of energy efficiency in the Community — SAVE II (96/737/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130s (1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Commiittee (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189 (c) of the Treaty (%), (1) Whereas Article 130r of the Treaty states that one objective of the Community policy on the environ- ment shall be to ensure a prudent and rational util- ization of natural resources; (2) Whereas at its meeting on 29 October 1990 the Council set an objective of stabilizing total CO, emissions by the year 2000 at the 1990 level in the Community as a whole; (3) Whereas Decision 93/389/EEC (®) established a monitoring mechanism of Community CO, and other greenhouse gas emissions; (4) Whereas nonetheless, despite efforts made, CO, emissions in the Community generated by energy consumption are expected to increase by 5 to 8 % between 1995 and 2000, assuming normal eco- nomical growth; whereas, therefore, additional measures are indispensable; (5) Whereas the Commission, in its communication of 8 February 1990 on energy and the environment, highlighted energy efficiency as the cornerstone of future efforts to reduce the negative impact of energy on the environment; (6) Whereas improvement in the management of energy is urgently needed in order to contribute to the () OJ No C 346, 23. 12. 1995, p. 14. () OJ No C 82, 19. 3. 1996, p. 13. ( 8 July 1996 (O] No C 264, 11. 9. 1996, p. 46) and Decision of the European Parliament of 12 November 1996 (OJ No C 323, 4. 12. 1996). () OJ No L 167, 9. 7. 1993, p. 31. protection of the environment, to a better security of energy supply and to sustainable development; (7) Whereas the Commission has communicated to the Council and the European Parliament, by means of the Green paper of 11 January 1995 and the White Paper of 13 December 1995, its views on the future of energy policy in the Community, and the role of energy-saving and energy efficiency measures; (8) Whereas Article 130a of the Treaty provides that the Community should develop and pursue its actions leading to the strengthening of its economic and social cohesion, and that it should, in particular, reduce disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and the backwardness of the least-favoured regions; whereas energy should be integrated into that effort; (9) Whereas, by Decision 91/565/EEC (¥), a Community energy efficiency programme (SAVE), aimed at strengthening energy efficiency infrastructures within the Community, was adopted; whereas that programme expired on 31 December 1995; (10) Whereas the Community recognized the SAVE programme as an important element of the Com- munity’s CO, reduction strategy; Wwhereas the communication of the Commission of 8 May 1991 on the European Community’s energy programming activities at regional level, the conclusion of the Council on this communication, and the Resolution of the European Parliament of 16 July 1993 (’) stated that those activities should be pursued, amplified and utilized as a support for the energy strategy of the Community; whereas this initiative for regional actions should now be totally incorporated into a new SAVE II programme; (11) Whereas by Decision No 1110/94/EC on the Euro- pean Parliament and of the Council (¥}, a fourth framework programme for actions in technological research, development and demonstration was established; whereas energy efficiency policy consti- tutes an important instrument for the use and promotion of the new energy technologies that the framework programme will establish; whereas the SAVE II programme represents a policy instrument which complements this programme; o L 307, 8 11. 1991, p. 34. o C 255, 20. 9. 1993, p. 252. o L 126, 18. 5. 1994, p. 1. ZZZ