Action Plan 2008-2012: Voluntary Agreements

The aims of this measure, included in the Action Plan 2008-2012, are to promote the adoption of energy saving measures by industry in a given sub-sector, and engage entrepreneurial associations and industries to reach the saving potential identified by the sub-sector. The Voluntary Agreement must be a tool engaging entrepreneurial associations and the Administration to achieve energy goals without compromising the competitiveness of firms. The essential points of the Voluntary Agreement are: - The saving potential identified and the possibility to meet it; - An explicit commitment of the firms in the sub-sector or activity branch considered; - Financing lines for energy saving incentives and the possibility to give preferential treatment to the firms formally committed; - A follow-up of the objectives stated in the Voluntary Agreement. The Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade will be in charge of defining the contents in the Voluntary Agreement; it will implement the approach with the Entrepreneurial Association and will sign the Voluntary Agreement. IDAE will take part in defining the energy saving potential, as well as the approach for each specific case. IDAE will also take part in the Voluntary Agreements annual follow-up. The first step is meant to be the signature of Voluntary Agreements with Entrepreneurial Associations. Entrepreneurial Associations will present their Voluntary Agreement to the governing bodies, which shall sign them and carry out the annual polls.

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