Directives

Directives are the legislative instructions meant for member states of European Union. Rather than amending a member state’s legislation directly, it gives a directive to national legislators. The legislator is obligated to implement the directive’s content in its country’s legislation, but each member state is free to choose the way and the means by which this is achieved. If a member state’s legislation already meets a directive’s requirements, new legislative acts are not required.

Key energy and climate directives include the:

• Emissions Trading Directive,
• Energy Service Directive,
• Energy Performance of Buildings Directive,
• Ecodesign Directive, and
• Renewable Energy Directive.

People’s everyday activities are also guided by energy labels, for example, which are based on the directives.