In this interview, Enrico Rossi (IT/PES), a member of Signa Municipal Council (Florence) and former president of the Tuscany Region (2010-2020), answers six questions about his opinion on the EU's Renovation Wave initiative, adopted in March by the European Committee of the Regions. The Renovation Wave, launched on 14 October 2020 by the European Commission, aims to improve the energy performance of the EU's building stock and is a key pillar of the European Green Deal roadmap. With buildings accounting for 40% of Europe's energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), their renovation is crucial to making the EU climate-neutral by 2050. In the opinion drawn up by Enrico Rossi, cities and regions call for a revision of state aid schemes, more flexible budget rules to maximise investments and renovations, subnational targets for the renovation of buildings, and the integration of renewable energy sources in renovation projects. The CoR and the European Commission have just signed an action plan to accelerate the renovation and decarbonisation of the EU's building stock.

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has adopted an opinion on the Renovation Wave, the EU's plan to upgrade the energy performance of Europe's building stock. Accounting for 40% of Europe's energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), the renovation of buildings is key for the EU to reach climate neutrality by 2050. Cities and regions call for a revision of state aid schemes, more flexible budget rules to maximise investments and renovations, subnational targets for the renovation of buildings and the integration of renewable energy sources in renovation projects.

The European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission launched today a cooperation to accelerate the overhaul and decarbonisation of EU building stock. The potential for new jobs, energy savings and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions makes the EU's building "Renovation Wave" a key driver to build a robust and sustainable recovery from COVID-19. The partnership aims to support local and regional governments with renewing their building stock. The COVID-19 health crisis has amplified the need to improve living conditions within our buildings and to eradicate energy poverty.

Charles Michel, President of the European Council, will on 17 March make his first address to the European Committee of the Regions, starting a plenary session that will bring into focus local and regional perspectives on policies to end the COVID-19 pandemic and to promote a green and inclusive economic recovery. Four European Commissioners will lead debate about COVID-19 vaccinations and building resilience in EU's regions, the economic recovery package, the Green Deal, and integration of migrants. An award to honour the memory of Paweł Adamowicz, late mayor of Gdańsk, will be launched and the winners of the European Entrepreneurial Region Award will be announced.