PASOK MEPs urge EU Commission transparency on data center resource use

Four PASOK Members of the European Parliament have submitted a formal inquiry to the European Commission regarding the environmental and economic impact of data centers. The MEPs—Giannis Maniatis, Nikos Papandreou, Sakis Arnaoutoglou, and Nikolas Farantouris—are calling for greater transparency concerning the energy and water consumption of these facilities.

Citing International Energy Agency data, the MEPs noted that electricity consumption by data centers in Europe is projected to increase by approximately 70% between 2024 and 2030. They expressed concerns that the costs associated with upgrading electrical infrastructure to support these centers might be shifted onto citizens, farmers, and small businesses rather than the technology companies themselves.

The inquiry specifically asks whether the Commission will mandate the publication of consumption data, such as power, water usage, and efficiency metrics (including PUE and WUE), on an individual facility basis rather than only at the aggregate EU or member-state level. Additionally, they requested information on how water consumption will be managed in regions facing water stress or drought.