MEP Bairbre de Brún has called on the Stormont Executive to set energy efficiency measures among its top priorities, as the new Swedish EU Presidency moves the issue up the political agenda.

Sweden, which took over the EU Presidency last month, hosted an informal meeting of energy and environment ministers in Åre, Sweden, last week, with energy efficiency high on the agenda.

Ms de Brún said: "Energy efficiency can help businesses through the economic crisis by lowering costs; can help less well off families out of fuel poverty and a shift to an energy-efficient economy can help economic growth.

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"The Executive must use the resources and help available through the EU Task Force to put our economy on an energy-efficient path," she said.

"Europe is clearly showing that climate-friendly policies such as energy efficiency and renewable energy can help economic growth and the Executive and Assembly must not be left behind."

The MEP added: "It is time to step up a gear in our engagement with Europe on this issue and to put energy efficiency and renewable energy at the heart of the Executive’s planning in the time ahead."

"If we fail to move we will end up importing solutions from others," she warned.

(PR/BMcC)