Energy Performance of Buildings directive: pros and cons for European hospitality

As part of the Fit for 55 package, the European Commission released a proposal to revise the “Energy Performance of Buildings Directive”. We welcome the revision of the Directive as an important step to help reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Nevertheless – as stressed in our recent position paper – we are concerned with new infrastructural adjustments that need to be done by companies, as the last revision of the Directive took place in 2018 (the Member States needed to comply until mid-2021). This will bring more costs and burdens to companies, especially SMEs.

For instance, infrastructures for sustainable mobility are relevant for the hospitality sector (e.g., car charging stations; bicycle parking stations). Nevertheless, the level of detail of the proposal is unproportionate. The subsidiary should prevail. In addition, specific financing instruments and incentives should be foreseen especially for SMEs.

Finally, it is positive that companies are aware of the cost savings they will have at a later stage. But it is to note that companies should not be penalised with tax increases, otherwise the potential savings will be jeopardised.

We count on the co-legislators (the European Parliament and the Council) to take our position into account.