In view of the German presidency of the Council of the European Union, EU-ASE has supported an open letter to German Federal Ministers Altmaier, Seehofer, and Schulze urging them to include building renovation as a priority of the presidency programme.
The letter states:
The Renovate Europe Campaign (REC) is following with interest the development of the Programme for the upcoming German Council Presidency. The proposed priorities that we have heard of through public events and announcements, have raised concern among our 39 partner companies and associations. Among those partners we have 15 national partners, including, from Germany, DENEFF.
Our concern arises from the fact that there has been absolutely no mention of energy renovation of the building stock within the proposals we have heard about (including in the 18-month Programme of the Council1), a very surprising omission considering the recent webinar that was organised by the German Permanent Representation in Brussels on the topic of the Renovation Wave. On this point, we urge you to ensure that the German Council Presidency supports and promotes the forthcoming Renovation Wave Strategy currently being prepared for publication in September by the European Commission as a crucial pillar of the forthcoming European economic recovery.
Our objective is to ask that before the Presidency starts on the 1st July, energy renovation of our ageing and inefficient building stock is included as a priority in the Final Council Presidency Programme, which we understand is still in the final stages of development.
In a fast-changing political and economic environment, 2025 was a year of continued efforts to strengthen security, stability, and competitiveness for European businesses.
Throughout the year, our work demonstrated that energy efficiency is not only essential to achieving climate goals, but also a key driver of innovation, energy independence and sustainable long-term growth across Europe.
Strong engagement with policymakers, combined with the successful organisation of the 4th European Energy Efficiency Day, highlighted the importance of collaboration and dialogue in advancing shared objectives. Partnerships across sectors and institutions remained central to delivering impact and shaping effective energy policies.
Looking ahead to 2026, we will intensify our efforts to secure the regulatory certainty that can accelerate the energy transition, while providing businesses with the investment confidence they need and strengthening Europe’s competitiveness.
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