An effective ecological transition must also be economic, social, and democratic - EUROPE SAYS
According to Mr. Nowacki’s perspectives the access to finance remains one of the principal barriers to housing investment and renovation. EU financial instruments should increasingly focus on reducing. . .
According to Mr. Nowacki’s perspectives the access to finance remains one of the principal barriers to housing investment and renovation. EU financial instruments should increasingly focus on reducing up-front investment costs through guarantees, blended finance, revolving funds and advance financing mechanisms, enabling households, housing associations and private investors to undertake renovation projects without excessive capital constraints. The Committee supports expanding the use of EU financial instruments, including the Social Climate Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Social Fund Plus, while ensuring that these resources leverage substantially larger volumes of private capital rather than replacing market financing. Public-private partnerships, institutional investors and limited-profit housing models should play a greater role in increasing the supply of affordable housing. Stable regulatory frameworks, predictable investment conditions and efficient administrative procedures are essential to mobilise long-term private investment in both new construction and large-scale renovation. Tackling housing scarcity through affordable, sustainable and family-oriented housing policies | EESCRevision of the energy performance of buildings directive | EESCCrises do not expect otherwise they would not be crises but structural problems. Perhaps it is not appropriate to approach what is happening with respect to energy in Europe with a new mindset? In part the green deal seemed to have seen this scenario in perspective but then I sleep important steps backwards were taken. When you settle for the status quo you can’t really changeAs long as the balance is between existing economy and new environmental targets and not new economy adjustment to it with a total ecological transition, do you not think it is doomed to fail?The European Economic and Social Committee has long argued that real energy security comes from energy independence, and energy independence comes from locally produced energy. This approach has increasingly been reflected in EU policy initiatives such as REPowerEU and more recently AccelerateEU. However, achieving this transformation requires more than renewable deployment alone. Europe also needs a new energy market design capable of delivering a genuine Energy Union, ensuring solidarity, resilience and affordability across Member States. At the same time, energy infrastructure planning must evolve to accommodate decentralised energy production and weather-dependent renewables, including stronger grids, storage capacity and interconnections. The transition must also include realistic and viable decarbonisation pathways for energy-intensive industries, ensuring both affordability of energy supply and the long-term competitiveness of European industry. Without this balance, social acceptance and economic stability will be difficult to maintain. Finally, the transition cannot succeed without recognising the role of active energy citizenship. Citizens must not only be protected from energy poverty and unfair costs, but also empowered to become active participants in the transition, as energy producers, members of energy communities and consumers of clean energy.