EU deal on ‘nearly zero energy buildings’ by 2050
European Union lawmakers reached a tentative agreement on Tuesday (19 December) on some key parts of a draft law that will facilitate the renovation of Europe’s existing building stock, with the aim of reaching nearly zero energy buildings by 2050, EU sources said.
The deal was struck during negotiations over the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), a key piece of legislation that is part of a wider package of clean energy laws tabled by the European Commission last year, EurActiv reports.
The talks in Brussels were still going on at the time this article was published but negotiators were now increasingly confident about the chances of concluding before the end of the day.
A central part of the deal relates to long-term renovation strategies, an issue that had blocked an agreement during previous rounds of talks between the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers, representing the 28 EU member states.
Around lunchtime, both sides agreed on wording that negotiators said will facilitate the transformation of existing buildings into nearly zero energy buildings by 2050.
