18/05/2021 (Agence Europe) – The Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union sent a new draft of conclusions on the EU’s ‘renovation wave’ strategy to the Member States on 12 May. There are very few changes compared to the previous version detailed in our publication (see EUROPE 12717/10). However, one change is worth mentioning: while the new text still calls on the European Commission to “examine all options for phasing out fossil fuels in heating and cooling in the most cost-efficient way”, the Presidency now proposes to add the wording “and (in the way) that is most aligned with the achievement of EU climate neutrality by 2050”. Lisbon’s aim is to adopt these conclusions at the next meeting of Member States’ energy ministers on 11 June. See the new draft conclusions: https://bit.ly/3oviWaH (DG)