16/01/24 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 16 January, MEPS on the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy approved by 38 votes to 20, with 6 abstentions, the political agreement that brought negotiations with the EU Council on the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (see EUROPE 13310/6) to a close in December. As the rapporteur, Ciarán Cuffe (Greens/EFA, Irish), pointed out, the discussions on this text, which aims to define the tools needed to achieve a zero-emissions building stock by 2050, were not easy. The consensus reached is that all new buildings should be emission-free from 2030. For new public buildings, the target has been brought forward to 2028. Although Parliament has had to make concessions, it has obtained “provisions on social protection, such as a breakdown of rental prices”, emphasised Mr Cuffe. (NP)