‘Green homes’: Jørgensen rejects claims of a revolt by EU governments; “Half of the member states have already partially implemented the rules”

Brussels – There is no mutiny among Member States regarding the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive – known as the ‘green homes’ directive – the Commissioner for Energy, Dan Jørgensen, assured in response to a question from the League delegation in the European Parliament, which the European Commission used to clarify an issue that is nevertheless causing concern within the European People’s Party (EPP). 

On 15 July, the European Commission issued a warning regarding the failure to transpose the directive on sustainable construction. This prompted MEPs from the League (Patriots for Europe group, PfE) Anna Maria Cisint, Susanna Ceccardi, Silvia Sardone, Isabella Tovaglieri, Raffaele Stancanelli, Paolo Borchia and Aldo Patriciello to call for a U-turn on the measure. “Does the Commission think that the Member States’ collective failure to transpose the directive calls for an overhaul of the directive or an assessment into whether it should be repealed?” was the question posed by the League MEPs.

It is here that Jørgensen clarifies and refutes the claim: “With over half of the Member States having self-declared partial transposition of
the Directive, the Commission does not agree that there has been a ‘collective failure’ to
transpose the EPBD.” 

The Commissioner for Energy therefore points out that the issue is delays, not resistance by Member States. He does not go into detail, nor does he provide a list of those who began implementing the provisions for sustainability-proof homes. Still, he paints a different picture from that presented by the sovereignist right in the European Parliament, to whom he reiterates that there is no question of revising the measure at this stage: “the Commission will evaluate and review the directive by the end of 2028.”

Based on these timetables and intentions, national governments must therefore respond to the letter of formal notice to prevent the procedure from advancing. The Green Homes Directive is moving forward, and with it comes the call to transpose it into national law.