The European Commission decided to open infringement procedures by sending letters of formal notice to all 27 EU Member States for failing to fully transpose into national law the provisions of the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU) 2024/1275 (EPBD). The Directive was adopted in 2024 and Member States had to notify their transposition of the Directive by 29 May 2026, except for Article 17(15) on the prohibition of financial incentives for the installation of fossil fuel boilers which had to be transposed earlier, by 1 January 2025. Buildings are the single largest energy consumer in Europe. Transposition and implementation of the EPBD is key to boosting the EU’s current very low annual energy renovation rate (1%), reducing bills for citizens and businesses and the EU’s dependence on imported fossil fuels, and achieving a zero-emission and fully decarbonised building stock by 2050. The recast Directive sets new requirements on minimum energy performance standards for non-residential buildings and trajectories for the progressive renovation of residential buildings, infrastructure for sustainable mobility, and solar energy in buildings. It also foresees the establishment of one-stop shops for advice on building renovation and includes provisions on public and private financing which will make renovation more affordable and feasible. The Commission is therefore sending letters of formal notice to the Member States concerned. They now have two months to respond, complete their transposition and notify the Commission. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.
