European Commission publishes new proposals on the gas market and energy performance of buildings directive

Brussels, 15 December 2021 – Today the European Commission has released its proposals for establishing a new EU framework to decarbonise gas markets, promote hydrogen and reduce methane emissions. The so-called gas package includes 3 key legislative proposals: the recast of the EU Regulation on the internal markets for renewable and natural gases and for hydrogen, EU Directive on common rules for the internal markets in renewable and natural gases and in hydrogen, and the EU Methane Regulation. The Commission has also presented today its proposal for the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

EGEC underlines that today’s proposals do not effectively address the issue of the lack of competition in the heat market. Instead of promoting an EU framework that would facilitate cost-effective, resilient local and decentralised production of renewable energy solutions, the Commission proposes to greenwash the gas markets.

Philippe Dumas, EGEC’s Secretary General, highlights that “In just over a month after the COP26, and in the middle of a gas price crisis, the European Commission continues to protect gas markets at the expense of renewable heat and energy efficiency. We need more competition and fair competition between gas and renewables to supply affordable heat to all consumers”

Falling short of a clear phase out of fossil fuels in buildings, the Commission’s proposal for a revised EPBD is not quite aligned with the European objective of a decarbonised building stock by 2050. Some new measures however, including the proposed eneryg renovation of the 30% of European buildings belonging to the lowest energy performance class, are welcome steps toward this objective.