At his confirmation hearing in the European Parliament on 5 November (see EUROPE 13507/5), the Commissioner-designate for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, will attempt to convince MEPs of his desire to prioritise the EU’s energy independence (see EUROPE 13506/12), but also to tackle energy poverty and improve energy efficiency in the buildings sector.
The hearing will be an opportunity for the Commissioner-designate to demonstrate that his combined energy and housing portfolio has the potential to enable citizens to benefit from all the advantages of a low-carbon housing stock.
In his written answers, Mr Jørgensen acknowledges in particular that “citizens in energy poverty are often living in the EU’s worst-performing and least insulated buildings, which need to be renovated as a matter of priority”.
He also states that the renovation of residential buildings should include a representative proportion of rented buildings, “so that tenants can benefit from lower energy bills and better homes”. The Commissioner will also commit to tackling the obstacles that stand in the way of decentralised and local renewable energy production.
These considerations will be included in the ‘European Plan for Affordable Housing’, which the Commissioner will have to implement at the start of his term of office.
This ‘Plan’ will also include “a strategy for housing construction to support housing supply”.
In addition, the response document points out that from 2026 onwards, investment in energy-efficient housing, including through renovation and redevelopment, will be eligible for support from the Social Climate Fund.
To see the written answers, go to https://aeur.eu/f/e21 (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)