Debate: Energy performance of buildings
Date: MONDAY, 13 MARCH 2023
Speaker: Ciarán Cuffe
Country: Ireland
Language: EN

This winter, millions of people were trapped in cold, draughty homes. Households and businesses are struggling to pay sky-high energy bills. Property owners are unable to renovate their homes and cannot afford to do so. Renters are stuck with eye-watering fuel bills, with no control over the energy performance of their home.  We have the power to tackle this crisis and provide much-needed relief to households and businesses across Europe. The recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, or EPBD, is that solution.  This directive is at the core. It is a plan for the EU to achieve a climate-neutral building stock by 2050. Why buildings? Well buildings are responsible for 36 % – more than a third – of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions. And there is no question that we have to tackle buildings to make a real change. Categorically, the EU will not achieve its climate targets without this directive. However, we have a deal on the EPBD that will not only lower emissions but will also lower energy bills, boost European jobs and industries, and strike a blow to Europe’s dependence on fuel imports from Russia and elsewhere.  And after months of negotiations in the ITRE Committee, we have reached an agreement on the Buildings Directive and a strong majority from all of Parliament’s major political groups have backed this agreement. The negotiators support the deal because it’s fair and it’s realistic. It provides flexibility to Member States, property owners and tenants, and it’s the right deal for Europe.  It’s a fair and realistic plan because it targets the worst-performing buildings, prioritising people in energy poverty who are most impacted by high bills. And it ensures a fair distribution of responsibility amongst the Member States. While we’ve increased the ambition level for renovation, we’ve also adopted stronger social protections against disproportionate rent increases or eviction. And we will boost renewable installations in buildings, and Member States must adopt plans to phase out fossil fuel use in buildings by 2035.  It’s also a flexible plan. Every country develops its own renovation plan that is specific to their needs. Historical and religious buildings are exempt. Residential property owners have more time to abide by the new rules. And it’s crucial, however, that exemptions for residential buildings are limited. Certain groups, like renters, must not be locked into cold, damp buildings and denied the benefits of lower bills and decent housing.  It’s the right plan for Europe. The proposed deal will save almost 50 billion m³ of fossil gas per year. That’s the gas consumption of 35 million households, another crucial blow to Europe’s dependence on Putin’s gas.  Certain members on the far right of this House would like to see changes to the text that would render this directive almost meaningless. To deny European households and businesses the chance of lower bills and decent housing should be unthinkable. Furthermore, without this directive, we’re in grave danger of missing our climate targets.  So I urge my colleagues to reject efforts to water down this crucial legislation. And instead, tomorrow, let’s vote for cheaper bills, warmer homes and climate protection. It’s a good deal for the citizens of Europe, it’s a good deal for the construction industry and creating jobs, and it’s a good deal for the planet. So let’s vote to get this deal done and get this report approved.