As part of the ongoing negotiations with MEPs to revise the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, EU governments appear ready to agree on a deadline for requiring all new buildings to produce more renewable energy on-site than they consume.
On 12 October, a council official told news sources governments are ready to "make a move towards the Parliament" and set a deadline for "zero-energy" buildings. MEPs have backed the deadline of 2019, but governments have called it unrealistic. EU legislators could agree on the year 2020 or 2021. Governments and MEPs will discuss the deadline when they meet on 15 October at a second "trialogue" meeting.
During a trialogue meeting earlier this month the Parliament's rapporteur Silvia-Adriana Þicãu insisted that the revised directive should include new financial incentives to drive energy-efficiency investments.
Member states have so far refused to agree to binding requirements on financing, arguing buildings legislation should not prescribe funding and tax incentives. They could include "some provisions on financing" in the law but the details have yet to be agreed on, the council source said.
Two additional trialogue meetings will take place in November, suggesting that a swift conclusion to the negotiations is unlikely. The Swedish presidency is keen to reach a deal with MEPs before a meeting of energy ministers in early December.
Source: European Council
