Compromise likely on buildings Directive

EU energy ministers have indicated that that they are willing to consider a number of amendments to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which is currently being recast. The Council of Ministers initially objected to several key elements of the Commission’s proposal and branded the amendments tabled by MEPs as ‘overly ambitious and unrealistic’. After a recent meeting in Sweden, ministers have indicated that they intend to seek common ground with the European Parliament. The proposal is still likely to run into difficulties however, notwithstanding the Swedish Presidency’s pledge to reach an agreement on the legislation before a meeting of EU energy ministers in December, with or without a common position in the Council of Ministers.

Contentious issues include the target date for transposition into national law and the deadline for applying the provisions to public buildings (end of 2010 and end of 2012 respectively), which several Member States have claimed are ‘much too soon’. Member States have also expressed concerns that the Directive will create disproportionate administrative burdens and that a harmonised approach would not take the differences between Member States into account.