Three in four EU states failing on building energy directive

McGraw Hill Financial
October 13, 2013

The European Commission sent final warnings to another two EU countries Thursday for failing to notify measures to implement a directive on energy efficiency in buildings, meaning final warnings have been issued to 22 of the 28 EU countries.

The directive requires national governments to put in place minimum energy performance requirements for buildings, along with a certification system. It also requires that from 2021 all new buildings will be so-called "near zero-energy" by producing, at worst, nearly as much energy as they use.

All EU countries had to transpose the directive into national law by July 9, 2012, and notify the EC they had done so. The latest final warnings were sent to the Czech Republic and Romania for failing to do this.

The EC has already sent warnings to Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and the UK.

The EC estimated in 2010 that buildings account for 40% of the EU's energy use and 36% of carbon emissions.

If an EU country fails to respond satisfactorily within two months to a final warning, the EC may refer the case to the EU Court of Justice.