Environment
Lindner: Planned EU building directive “enormously dangerous”
The money is sometimes being given to the wrong areas, criticizes Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) with regard to the EU legislative proposal on restructuring obligations. photo
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
In order to reduce energy requirements, a proposal for renovation obligations for old buildings is being discussed in Brussels. Critics – including Finance Minister Lindner – warn of high costs for homeowners.
Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner has sharply criticized an important EU climate protection law with the Buildings Directive for better energy efficiency.
“I consider this directive to be extremely dangerous – not only in terms of the dictates of economic reason, according to which we should use money where it has the best effect on the climate in connection with our economic competitiveness,” said the FDP politician News portal “Politico”. “But also in terms of social peace, because people could get the impression that politics is making it more difficult for them to live in their own four walls and be able to pay for it,” says Lindner.
More greenhouse gas emissions from old buildings
The proposed law on renovation obligations for old buildings is currently being discussed in Brussels. The EU Commission presented this because, according to it, buildings are responsible for around 40 percent of energy consumption and around a third of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU.
If houses are better insulated or modern heating systems are used, this can reduce energy requirements. There is criticism because of the fear that many homeowners could face high renovation costs. The EU states and the European Parliament still have to find a compromise before the requirements can come into force.
Lindner would prioritize differently
Lindner criticized that some of the money was being given to the wrong areas. In his opinion, the priority should be to make progress in the energy supply sector when converting industry to climate-friendliness. He firmly believes that the problem is not the availability of public capital, but rather the attractiveness for private capital. Lessons have been learned from the German heating law.
Today the former EU Commission President gives her annual State of the Union speech in the European Parliament. This will probably involve, among other things, the implementation of plans for more climate protection.