Press Release

EU falls short in eco-standards for buildings

PRESS RELEASE

[Brussels, 18 November 2009] The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) is disappointed with the final conclusions of yesterdays meeting at the European Commission regarding the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which saw many concessions and exemptions made.

In a sector which accounts for 40% of EU final energy use and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions, clear and determined efforts to improve the building stock is an essential contributor for reaching the climate targets of the EU.

“In this agreement, we have lost the heart of the ambition shown by the European Parliament in its first reading, which called for the necessary urgency, minimum requirements, financial mechanisms and enforcement.” Said Catherine Pearce, EEB’s Climate Policy Officer.

“In that respect we have missed a valuable, open opportunity to ensure the building sector contributes to the EU fight on climate change, reduces unnecessary energy wastage and offers significant job creation.”

The revision of the 2002 EPBD initiated by the European Commission in November 2008 is now in its final stages. The final trialogue negotiation concluded last night with political agreement on the remaining outstanding issues. Final agreement on the revised directive is expected at the Energy Council on 7 December.

Pearce continued: “This revised Directive takes our new building stock to nearly zero energy in 2020, with new public buildings to be nearly zero by 2018, which is too late in our opinion to contribute to meeting our 2020 emission reduction targets.”

EEB wants to ensure that Member States do not attempt to further weaken the Directive during any additional committee hearings [1], but rather that they put in place strong national plans to secure full, swift implementation across Europe. The Directive also establishes minimum requirements to improve our existing buildings and all their elements.

For more information:
Catherine Pearce, EEB Policy Officer on Climate and Environmental Policy Integration: +32 289 13 02, catherine.pearce@eeb.org

Simon Nazer, Press Officer: +32 49 6438469, simon.nazer@eeb.org

Editors notes:
[1] A process of comitology is expected to add definition to some aspects of the recast