Gunther Oettinger, the future Commissioner for Energy, recently stated that the EU will continue supporting housing energy refurbshment, within the framework of a new energy efficiency action plan due to be adopted by the EU Commission by the end of 2010.

While Oettinger's comments can be taken as positive, members of CECHODAS are wary following a balancing comment from Johannes Hahn, the future Commissioner for Regional Policy, who in a brief statement seemed to suggest that the DG Regional Policy would not be as ambitious as the DG Energy when it came to the issue of energy efficiency. When Hahn was asked by MEP's how he intends to ensure that the use of structural funds for energy efficiency investment in housing will be reducing poverty, he answered saying all EU member states have access to the stuctural funds and is up to them to use it.

Much work still needs to be done in raising the awareness of the Housing sector and in particular social and co-operative housing to meeting EU energy reduction targets. The future Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Laszlo Ando, highlighted the work that both CECHODAS and going forward ACT! and Co-operatives Europe must undertake to gain clear EU support by commenting that "energy efficiency was not his business", despite the publicity and campaigning around the issue.

CECHODAS plan to write letters to the new Commissioners once they are confirmed on the 9th February and ACT! will be looking to support this lobby work.

Sourced from CECHODAS newsletter Jan-Feb 2010