On 30 November 2016 the European Commission published the “Clean Energy package”, a set of measures to keep the European Union competitive as the clean energy transition is changing the global energy markets. Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete said: “our proposals provide a strong market pull for new technologies, set the right conditions for investors, empower consumers, make energy markets work better and help us meet our climate targets”. The package includes
a proposal for a revised Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD).

The Cerame-Unie position paper on the revision of the EPBD recommends to use a holistic approach when calculating the energy performance of buildings and to better value the contribution of thermal mass to buildings’ energy performance. Housing should remain affordable and both renovation and new construction shall receive the same fiscal and financial incentives.

On 28 February 2017 the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee at the European Parliament held its first exchange of views on the proposal for a revision of the EPBD. Danish MEP Bendt Bendtsen (EPP), rapporteur for the ITRE’s report, presented his main ideas on the revision of this directive. For more information see the EP briefing document here. The CU position paper is mentioned in the section “Stakeholders’ views” (page 7).

The draft report from MEP Bendtsen was published at the end of April. The debate in the ITRE committee took place on 29 May. A committee vote is expected on 11 October and the full plenary will vote in November.