Reaction to the European Council and Parliament reaching a deal on the proposal to revise the energy performance of buildings directive

The European Council and the  European Parliament this week reached provisional political agreement on a proposal to revise the energy performance of buildings directive. The revised directive sets new and more ambitious energy performance requirements for new and renovated buildings in the EU and encourages member states to renovate their building stock.

Under the deal, all new buildings will have to be zero-emission as of 2030, an objective that is brought forward to 2028 for new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities.

Here is some of the reaction to the agreement:

• Monica Frassoni, President of the European Alliance to Save Energy, commenting on the political agreement, said: “Even if the directive includes several positive provisions to improve the energy performance of the highly inefficient European building stock and the ultimate goal remains the full decarbonisation of EU buildings by 2050, we regret that minimum energy performance standards have been seriously weakened. The large flexibility and derogations conceded to governments could have been coupled with higher ambition, especially for residential buildings.”
• Laetitia Aumont, Policy Officer at the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), said: “Incorporating climate requirements into all aspects of new buildings, including from construction materials, is a historical move. However, governments must extend this consideration to existing buildings, prioritising the most critical homes. Ensuring renovation for households most vulnerable to energy poverty is a social and moral imperative.”
• “The EPBD is the final cornerstone of the Fit-for-55 package. It is our roadmap to ensure that Europeans have buildings that are decarbonised, energy efficient, and healthy. The political agreement found today should boost confidence in the renovation market and spur holistic renovations. The technologies to deliver are ready,” said Julie Kjestrup, President of EuroACE and Head of Policy and Thought Leadership at VELUX.
• “We have achieved something remarkable this evening. We created a blueprint for the transition towards a zero-emission building stock,” said Ciarán Cuffe, a green lawmaker from Ireland who was the lead speaker on the EPBD revision for the European Parliament.
• Arianna Vitali, Secretary-General of the Coalition for Energy Savings said: “Instead of a cherry on top of the Fit for 55’s cake, with last night’s EPBD deal, co-legislators missed the opportunity to fully apply the Energy Efficiency First principle to buildings, particularly residential ones. Renovations are at risk of not being accelerated to the level needed to meet the 2030 EU energy efficiency target, which will impact all citizens, in particular the most vulnerable.

An exceptionally strong implementation from Member States and resolute enforcement by the European Commission will be imperative to ensure that the EPBD ultimately supports the European Union’s carbon neutrality objective.”

Legal experts are now scrutinising the political agreement the Parliament and Council reached before it is sent back to both institutions for formal approval. The Parliament’s industry committee has tentatively scheduled a vote for 23 January 2024. Now there is the need to ramp up implementation.