Niko/European Parliament votes through controversial buildings law
In Strasbourg, EU lawmakers adopted the controversial Energy Performance of Buildings Directive with a large majority, putting the law one step away from conclusion.
Europe’s millions of draughty buildings consume a third of the EU’s energy and emit almost 40% of the bloc’s CO2 emissions. Brussels lawmakers fiercely debated the new law to boost flagging renovation rates and prepare buildings for a climate-neutral Europe.
That newly revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), was finally adopted by the bloc’s hemicycle with 370 votes in favour and 199 votes against on Tuesday (12 March).
“Lower energy bills, reduced energy poverty, and less emissions will come with our plan to improve Europe’s buildings,” said Irish Greens/EFA MEP Ciarán Cuffe, who’d negotiated the law for the Parliament.
Little remains of the original proposal of the European Commission from December 2021.
What started as a rigorous plane to systematically renovate the bloc’s worst-performing buildings, turned into a vague set of targets, giving EU countries ample leeway to achieve their 20% to 22% reduction in residential buildings’ energy use by 2035. 55% of the gains must come from the bottom 43% of worst-performing buildings.
Non-residential buildings on the other hand remain on a stricter path. By 2030, the bottom 16% of worst-performing buildings like offices and schools must be renovated, by 2033 the bottom 26%.
Other stipulations include a ban on subsidies for carbon fueled heaters from 2025, and a non-binding agreement to phase out totally cabon use for heating by 2040. The law will make solar panels on the roofs of houses – newly built or renovated – mandatory, provided they are economical.
The new measures will come into effect from late 2026, obliging EU countries to submit a collection of measures by which they aim to achieve these targets for the residential and non-residential sector.
Instead of a coherent EU-wide approach, the newly adopted law places repsonsibility on member states to effectively implement the policies. “EU countries must now keep up the momentum,” said Laetita Aumont on behalf of the European Environmental Bureau, a green NGO.
Industry associations focussed on efficiency – and producers of renovation materials – welcomed the law’s adoption.
“The EPBD is a clear signal to politicians and the market – at least for publicly and commercially used properties. Both must now take on a real leading role,” said Christian Noll, CEO of the efficiency initiative DENEFF.
Making it across the finish line
Leading up to the vote, stakeholders feared that a last-minute revolt by the EPP centre-right group could see the law failing to pass in plenary.
The group’s spokesman, Irish MEP Seán Kelly, said the informal agreement found in December’s trilogue negotiation meant his party could be “in favour” after the group’s traditional coordination meeting before the Strasbourg parliamentary sessions.
But the EPP was not totally united, centre-right deputies from Germany voted against the law – as did fellow German Renew members.
With one formal step left – a nod from the European Council – the buildings’ saga is far from over, given recent trends of last-minute blockades in Brussels.
Read more with Euractiv
