The European Council approves the directive on 'Green Homes', Italy votes against

Under the new rules, all new buildings should be carbon neutral by 2030.Giorgetti:"Beautiful directive but in the end who pays?"

by Alessio Pisanò, Vittorio Di Mambro Rossetti and Mirko Gabriele Narducci

BRUSSELS – The EU Economic and Financial Council (Ecofin) met today in Luxembourg approved the directive to improve the energy performance of buildings, also known as “Case Green”, with 20 out of 27 votes in favor. Italy is among the countries that voted against, together with Hungary.“It's a beautiful, ambitious directive, but in the end who pays?We have experiences in Italy in which a few lucky people have renovated their homes thanks to the money that the State, that is, all the other Italians, has put in and let's say that it is an experience that could teach us something" declared the Minister of Economy and Finance , Giancarlo Giorgetti.According to the new rules, by 2030 all new buildings should be carbon neutral.

PICKET:IDEOLOGICAL DIRECTIVE, DIFFICULT TO AGREE

“We worked hard on this directive, then opposed it harshly when it took a completely ideological turn, incompatible with our building structure.Compared to the initial text, we recognize that many steps forward have been made on the various methods, but we also have a building structure at country level, with 31 million buildings of which over 70% over 70 years old and widespread ownership with over 80% of Italians owning properties".This was said by the Minister of the Environment, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, on the sidelines of the conference 'For a young Europe' organized at the Tempio di Adriano, in Rome, regarding the EU directive on green homes approved by the Ecofin Council with only the votes against of Italy and Hungary.“It is clear that without an effort on the part of the European Union that makes compatible what is a choice that we share on the final objective, decarbonisation, but with the calendar that has been drawn up and that financial coverage, it also becomes quite difficult to agree“, added Pichetto.

GAVA:ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES MUST NOT STUN THE ECONOMY

“The theme is always the same:how to achieve environmental objectives without stunning the economy, families and businesses.The Italian government fought until the end, also obtaining important improvements. But the text remains unbalanced.Today's vote against is the vote of those who believe it is essential to consider a solutioni, regulatory and financial, which balance the objectives of environmental sustainability with those of economic and social sustainability to ensure a fair and accessible transition for all".This was declared by the Deputy Minister for the Environment and Energy Safety Vannia Gava regarding Italy's vote against the Green Homes directive.

FERRANTE (FI):GOOD NO ITALY, ENOUGH IDEOLOGICAL BLEEDING

“Italy has rightly confirmed its opposition to the EU directive on green homes:it's time to archive the irresponsible policies carried out by the left, which makes citizens pay the cost of demagogic measures.Imposing the energy adaptation of homes without worrying about who will pay the bill means pursuing a pseudo-environmentalism, blind and counterproductive, which has deleterious economic and social effects on our community.After the Superbonus experiment, which weighs over 200 billion euros on public accounts, further ideological bloodletting must be stopped.We need a policy capable of combine development and environmental protection, made of pragmatic choices that take into account the social conditions and the real estate peculiarities of our country.The EU must be changed and Forza Italia, by bringing together the moderate, liberal and reformist political movements that recognize themselves in the EPP, is a candidate to do so, making Italy count more in Europe".This was declared by Forza Italia MP Tullio Ferrante, Undersecretary of State at MIT.

M5S:VOTE FROM ITALY SHORT-SIGHTED, GOVERNMENT LOOKS AT THE PAST

“When it comes to development and the future, the Meloni government always shows that it is on the opposite side.He demonstrated this again today by voting in Europe against the green homes directive.A stubborn and dangerous choice that goes not only against the energy security and decarbonisation that our country needs, but also against a productive and highly innovative sector that is present in Italy.The data collected by Enea tell us that the energy requalification of buildings has resulted in a reduction of 4 billion euros in the national energy bill in 2022 alone.Benefits that will last for many years thanks to the interventions carried out.Again according to estimates provided by Enea, in relation to the lower imports of oil and gas we have achieved a reduction in CO2 emissions of approximately 6.5 million tonnes and a saving of just over 2.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe), a result that substantially brings Italy closer to the objectives of the new Energy Efficiency Directive.Numbers that represent the importance of working seriously to face the new challenges but above all to implement a transition that can bring benefits both on the economic front and on the increase in employment.It is sad to note once again that the government prefers to bet on a past that needs to be freed from rather than investing in a future that instead represents a great opportunity“.The parliamentarians of the 5 Star Movement of the Environment and Productive Activities commissions of the Chamber and Senate declared this in a note.

FLORIDIA (AVS):GOOD GO AWAY EU COMMUNITY DIRECTIVE

“The definitive green light from the EU Council for the 'Green Homes' directive is an opportunity for Italy and for all 27 countries of the European Union. Now we can finally start disinvesting in fossil fuel-fueled projects and ensure a healthier and more sustainable environment.Respecting the principle of 'the polluter pays' will guarantee citizens, families and businesses the necessary economic and financial coverage that worries the Italian Minister of Economy".This was stated by Senator Aurora Floridia of the Green and Left Alliance, in response to doubts about the economic coverage of the Minister of Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti.“Italy – continues Floridia – every year it spends over 20 billion euros on environmentally harmful subsidies. It is absolutely necessary to reverse the trend and gradually transform them into environmentally sustainable subsidies, partly using them also for this purpose:make private homes and buildings zero-emission by 2030 and public buildings by 2028.The regressive position of the Italian Government is unacceptable and unspeakable, especially in light of the over 50 thousand premature deaths caused every year by air pollution.We hope that the Government provides Italians with the necessary technical assistance and adequate financial support to restructuring operations, with particular attention to vulnerable families", concluded Floridia.