Yesterday, with the Plenary vote of the European Parliament on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) a major step forward has been taken. MEPs voted on the ITRE committee report by Rapporteur Ciarán Cuffe (Greens, Ireland) and on the amendments tabled last week.
Ahead of the vote, building on its detailed reaction following the ITRE vote in February, EBC reiterated its general support for the draft Report based on the compromise amendment agreed upon by the ITRE Shadow Rapporteurs, while endorsing specific amendments going in the direction of a more realistic, applicable and sustainable EPBD.
MEPs voted in favour of the Cuffe Report and the Commission proposal with 343 votes in favour, 218 against and 78 abstentions, while adopting a limited number of amendments. The voting process was particularly tight on certain amendments, with notably amendment 66 on the definition of Zero Emission Buildings for instance being rejected with a tie of 301 votes in favour versus 301 against. The amendments that have been adopted concern, among others, more flexibility on Minimum Energy Performance Standards on monuments and other historical buildings or reporting duties for the European Commission.
Following the adoption of the EP’s report, the EPBD will go into interinstitutional negotiations between the European Parliament, the Council of the EU, and the European Commission. EBC will continue to express the needs of SMEs and crafts in the construction sector so that their considerations are taken into account in the negotiations and will continue to work with the EU co-legislators for an ambitious but realistic revision of the EPBD.
 | To read the EBC reaction to the vote on the EPBD in the ITRE committee of the European Parliament, click here. To read the EBC feedback on the EC proposal for the revision of the EPBD, click here. |