Ireland could be taken to the Court of Justice of the European Union after failing to submit a draft plan for renovating the country’s building stock on time, the European Commission has warned.
The Commission has issued a so-called “reasoned opinion” to Ireland and eight other member states over their failure to meet the 31 December 2025 deadline for submitting draft National Building Renovation Plans.
The plans are required under Article 3 of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. They are intended to establish a “framework” for renovating residential and non-residential buildings, both public and private, and transforming them into a energy efficient and decarbonised building stock by 2050.
The Commission described the plans as an “essential strategic tool” for transforming buildings by the time of the EU’s net zero target date of 2050.
It said the plans would create predictable renovation pipelines and provide greater certainty for investment, while helping to improve energy independence, competitiveness and living conditions.
They are also expected to support more affordable housing and lower household energy bills by improving the energy performance of existing buildings.
Ireland and the other eight member states – Belgium, Czechia, Italy, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia – now have two months to respond to the reasoned opinions and submit their draft plans. If they fail to do so, the Commission may decide to refer the cases to the EU’s highest court.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has been asked for its response to the threat of EU court action.
The Commission has urged the countries concerned to submit their plans “without further delay”, warning that timely action will be essential to implementing the revised directive and accelerating building decarbonisation across the EU.