Energy, EU – Baltic States, Modern EU

The European Commission published a series of recommendations on the modernisation of buildings (21.06.2019), specifying how the EU states should implement the revised building modernisation aspects of the Energy performance of buildings directive (EPBD) 2018/844 to national law. The recommendations come as a response to requests from the EU states, and include guidance on building automation and controls, e-mobility and inspections.

EU states shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 10 March 2020. They shall immediately communicate the text of those measures to the Commission (Directive, art.3).

More in the Directive (30.05.2018, 17 pp) at:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32018L0844&from=EN

The EPBD is the main legislative instrument for the promotion of energy performance improvements in buildings within the EU, and these recommendations on building modernisation follows the recommendations on building renovation that was published in May 2019. Taken together, the two series of recommendations aim to ensure a uniform understanding in the states in the preparation of their transposition measures, keeping in mind that this does not alter the legal effects of the directive itself.

These amendments to the EPBD create a clear path towards achieving a low and zero-emission building sector in the member states by 2050, underpinned by national roadmaps with milestones and domestic progress indicators, and by public and private financing and investment.

The states must now adopt national long-term renovation strategies with a solid finance component to ensure the renovation of existing buildings into highly energy efficient and decarbonised buildings and facilitating the cost-effective transformation of all existing buildings into nearly zero-energy buildings.

Thus, the ultimate aim of these recommendations is to ensure a uniform understanding across the EU states in the preparation of their transposition measures, keeping in mind that this does not alter the legal effects of the directive itself.

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/commission-guidance-how-implement-revised-energy-performance-buildings-directive-provisions-building-renovation-2019-may-16_en

The revisions to the EPBD were the first steps in the “clean energy package” for all EU states entering into force on 9 July 2018 with the states’ obligation to transpose the new and revised provisions of the directive into the national legal systems by March 2020.

“Clean energy for all package” consists of eight legislative acts. After political agreement by the Council and the European Parliament in 2018 and early 2019, enabling all of the new rules to be in force by mid-2019, the EU countries have 1-2 years to transpose the new directives into national law.

On “clean energy package” see: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-strategy-and-energy-union/clean-energy-all-europeans

More information in the following links: Energy performance of buildings directive; and Recommendation for implementing the new EPBD provisions on building modernisation.

General reference: https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/driving-energy-efficiency-european-building-stock-new-recommendations-modernisation-buildings-2019-jun-21_en?pk_campaign=ENER%20Newsletter%20July%202019