14.11.2012 Official Journal of the European Union L 315/1 | (Legislative acts) DIRECTIVES DIRECTIVE 2012/27/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 194(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Shifting to a more energy-efficient economy should also accelerate the spread of innovative technological solutions and improve the competitiveness of industry in the Union, boosting economic growth and creating high quality jobs in several sectors related to energy efficiency. (2)  The Conclusions of the European Council of 8 and 9 March 2007 emphasised the need to increase energy After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national efficiency in the Union to achieve the objective of saving parliaments, 20 % of the Union’s primary energy consumption by 2020 compared to projections. The conclusions of the European Council of 4 February 2011 emphasised that . . . the 2020 20 % energy efficiency target as agreed by the Hax{mg regar(.i to tlhe opinion of the European Economic and June 2010 Europeang}éouncil, vs);hichgis presgntly n(}),t on Social Committee ('), track, must be delivered. Projections made in 2007 showed a primary energy consumption in 2020 of 1 842 Mtoe. A 20 % reduction results in 1 474 Mtoe in Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the 2020, ie. a reduction of 368 Mtoe as compared to Regions (3), projections. Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (%), (3)  The Conclusions of the European Council of 17 June 2010 confirmed the energy efficiency target as one of Whereas: the headline targets of the Union’s new strategy for jobs and smart, sustainable and inclusive growth (Europe 2020 Strategy). Under this process and in order to (1) The Union is facing unprecedented challenges resulting implement this objective at national level, Member from increased dependence on energy imports and scarce States are required to set national targets in close energy resources, and the need to limit climate change dialogue with the Commission and to indicate, in their and to overcome the economic crisis. Energy efficiency is National Reform Programmes, how they intend to a valuable means to address these challenges. It improves achieve them. the Union’s security of supply by reducing primary energy consumption and decreasing energy imports. It helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost- cffective way and thereby to mitigate climate change. (4 The Commission Communication of 10 November 2010 () OJ C 24, 28.1.2012, p. 134. () OJ C 54, 23.2.2012, p. 49. (’) Position of the European Parliament of 11 September 2012 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of 4 October 2012. on Energy 2020 places energy efficiency at the core of the Union energy strategy for 2020 and outlines the need for a new energy efficiency strategy that will enable all Member States to decouple energy use from economic growth.