Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

This proposal was discussed in ITRE Committee earlier this month. Rapporteur Silvia Ticau (Party of European Socialists, Romania) called for greater fiscal incentives, including national programmes of public works needed in addition to credits, loans, tax breaks and VAT cuts. She urged the Council to give this Directive greater priority. Ján Hudacký (European People’s Party – European Democrats, Slovenia) spoke about the need to reduce gas dependency, and offered support for the Rapporteur’s aim of achieving a first reading agreement by April. Den Dover (European People’s Party – European Democrats, UK), agreed that structural funding should be included, particularly for large residential blocks in new Member States. CEMBUREAU supports the Commission’s proposal to scrap a 1,000 square metre threshold under which buildings are not subject to the present Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBDⁱ) 2002/91/EC. This will help contribute to meeting ambitious EU targets for CO₂ savings.