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European Integration

01 May 2025

Ukraine's energy independence is one of the most important components of Ukraine's economic and, consequently, national security in general. Its state depends on the ability of the state to provide all sectors of the economy and end users with fuel and energy resources in sufficient quantities to ensure their efficient functioning and growth.

Adherence to the principle of ‘energy efficiency first’ is a strategic imperative for Ukraine, which directly contributes to strengthening its energy security and competitiveness both in the short term and in the long-term strategic context. This principle, enshrined in the EU's core Energy Efficiency Directive and confirmed by the updated EU Directive 2023/1791, which legally obliges Member States to take energy efficiency into account in all policy and key investment decisions in the energy and non-energy sectors, is becoming for Ukraine not only an economic necessity and a guarantee of the comfort of citizens and future generations, but also a crucial element in strengthening national security and an effective tool in the fight against climate change through the reduction of CO2 emissions. Reaffirming its commitment to the European principle of ‘Energy Efficiency First’ and committing to the European Green Deal, including Directives 2009/125/EC, 2010/31/EU, 2012/27/EU and RED II (second edition), Ukraine emphasises the priority of implementing all possible energy saving measures before considering the construction of new generating capacities, considering energy efficiency as a key benchmark for its European future.

SAEE, in turn, in accordance with the obligations undertaken by Ukraine under the Association Agreement between Ukraine, on the one hand, and the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, on the other hand (hereinafter - the Association Agreement), as well as within the framework of the Protocol of Accession to the Treaty Establishing the Energy Community, ratified by the Law of Ukraine No. 2787-VI dated 15 December 2010 ‘On Ratification of the Protocol of Accession of Ukraine to the Treaty Establishing the Energy Community’, takes measures to implement into national legislation the requirements of the relevant Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy efficiency, which is incorporated into Energy Community legislation in accordance with the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Energy Community of 15 October 2015 No. 2015/08/MC-EnC and Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May 2010 on the energy performance of buildings.

Following the path of European integration, Ukraine, in the face of war and the destruction of its energy infrastructure, is determined to decarbonise and rapidly adapt its energy system to modern energy efficiency standards, following the example of Europe, which began its transition to carbon neutrality in the 1970s, gradually reducing emissions through energy efficiency and innovation since the adoption of the first relevant Directive in 1976.

Ukraine's energy transition involves the simultaneous large-scale development of new carbon-free generating capacities and the modernisation of electricity transmission and distribution networks. Replacing fossil fuels with carbon-free electricity is a strategic goal that can be achieved by 2050 through intensive development of renewable energy, even without commissioning new nuclear power plants.

SAEE is carrying out a number of European integration reforms in the field of energy efficiency and alternative fuels, implementing the requirements of EU directives. It is actively working in the following areas: energy management and energy audit, energy services, development of high-efficiency cogeneration, implementation of eco-design and energy labelling requirements, certification of energy efficiency of buildings, development of the biomethane market, etc. You can find out more about the state of work in these areas from the news on the website and the latest report.

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