LATEST DRAFT OF COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS ON THE RENOVATION WAVE

As explained in our analysis of the Portuguese presidency’s first draft (epf21-09 of 23.02.2021), the Council Conclusions cannot be too precise, because the subject is the Commission Communication on the Renovation Wave, not precise legislation. Nonetheless, this new draft is starting to give an indication of how far the majority of member states is prepared to go.

...

The most important paragraph by far:

23. While RECOGNISING that setting a deep renovation standard or linking minimum energy performance standards to renovations complying with the principles of cost efficiency, competitiveness, and technological neutrality [ ] can, in particular if accompanied by financial, and advisory support and training and qualification schemes for building and energy professionals, combining integrated sectoral knowledge, be an efficient way of ensuring more extensive renovations, STRESSES the need to introduce and adapt these standards to the specific conditions and priorities of individual Member States, to ensure affordable construction, renovation and living, with regard to technical aspects such as climatic conditions, resource availability, building stock, heating and cooling, and ownership structure, as well as social aspects such as public support, public participation, education and employment.

Despite all the caveats, in this section “On the EU regulatory framework”, Council accepts the principle of EU law “setting a deep renovation standard or linking minimum energy performance standards to renovations”. That’s major.

Full EPF Secretariat report under epf21-24 of 20.04.2021