Green houses, the proof of failure: all states end up in breach

The European Union has launched a coordinated legal action against all 27 member states, including Italy, for failing to implement the directive on energy performance of buildings by the deadline of May 29. The directive, aimed at improving building efficiency and reducing emissions, was meant to take effect soon after its adoption in 2024. However, none of the countries have fully integrated the regulation into their national laws, prompting the European Commission to initiate infringement procedures against them. The infringement process gives governments two months to submit measures they have taken to comply with the directive. If these responses are deemed unsatisfactory, the European Commission can issue a motivated opinion, which could eventually lead to a court ruling before the Court of Justice of the European Union. This marks the latest step in a series of delays that have raised concerns among political figures and industry representatives. Italian center-right parties and property associations have reacted strongly to the situation. Eurodeputy Letizia Moratti, president of the National Consultation of Forza Italia, described the directive as an unrealistic and ideologically driven failure, suggesting it should be suspended and rewritten. Similarly, Flavio Tosi, another member of Forza Italia, criticized the directive for being crafted without adequate consultation with reality, noting that the simultaneous sanctioning of all member states indicates a problem with the directive itself rather than individual governments. Confedilizia, representing property owners, expressed similar concerns. President Giorgio Spaziani Testa argued that while improving building energy performance is necessary, it should be encouraged rather than imposed. This reflects a key political debate surrounding the directive: how to achieve greater efficiency without imposing unsustainable costs on property owners, particularly in countries like Italy, where much of the housing stock is old and extensive. Approved in 2024, the directive does not automatically require individual property owners to undertake renovations within set deadlines. Instead, it sets overall targets for reducing energy consumption and emissions, leaving it to national governments to determine tools, incentives, priorities, and financial resources. For residential properties, each country must outline a path to progressively reduce average energy consumption. Public and non-residential buildings, however, face minimum performance standards starting with the least efficient structures. By the end of 2026, member states will need to finalize and submit their national renovation plans, detailing objectives, policies, investments, and incentives. The success of the directive will depend heavily on securing funding and distributing costs fairly. For Italy, this is not the first time it has faced scrutiny. In March, Brussels had already initiated a procedure against Rome and other 18 countries, including France and Germany, for not submitting draft national plans. The current challenge focuses instead on the lack of internal legislation implementing the directive. The dual procedures and widespread delay highlight a clear gap between the goals set by EU institutions and the pace of national policy implementation. While the transition to more sustainable buildings remains formally underway, the fact that all European governments are simultaneously under scrutiny makes it difficult to dismiss the situation as merely bureaucratic neglect. The outcome of these proceedings will likely shape future discussions on energy efficiency and regulatory compliance across the continent.