Berlin considers withdrawing support for EU buildings directive

(EurActiv, 24 Apr 2023) Government infighting in Berlin could see Germany abandon a mandatory renovation principle in the EU’s buildings directive ahead of final negotiations in Brussels.

As part of its Green Deal, the European Commission is pushing to double the renovation rate of EU buildings, which currently stands at just 1% annually.

To do this, Brussels tabled a revision of the EU’s energy performance of buildings directive (EPBD) and introduced minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) to make renovations for the 15% worst-performing buildings mandatory across the 27-country bloc.

However, it is not looking good for the proposal, which faces resistance from all sides.

Appetite for mandatory energy performance standards has been limited among EU governments, with a 15-country coalition led by Rome and Warsaw looking to defeat it. In the opposite camp, a 6-country group led by France and Germany is pushing to uphold the bloc’s ambition.

The European Parliament, for its part, has supported ambitious mandatory renovation standards and adopted a position considered very ambitious. The Parliament and EU countries must approve a standard text before it can become law.

External link

EurActiv, 24 Apr 2023: Berlin considers withdrawing support for EU buildings directive