Today, the European Commission registered a European Citizens Initiative called HouseEurope! Power to Renovation.
The initiative aims to promote the renovation and transformation of existing buildings. The organizers urge the Commission to propose legislation encouraging the reuse of existing buildings, including: (i) tax reductions for renovation work and reused materials; (ii) fair rules for assessing the potential and risks of existing buildings; and (iii) new values for embedded CO2 in existing structures.
This initiative meets the formal conditions set by the legislation, and the Commission considers it legally admissible but has not yet analyzed its content.
The decision to register is based on a legal analysis of admissibility under the European Citizens Initiative Regulation. It does not predict the legal or political conclusions the Commission might reach if the initiative gains the support of at least one million EU citizens.
The content of the initiative only reflects the views of the organizers and not those of the Commission.
Next Steps
Following registration, the organizers have six months to collect signatures. If the initiative gathers at least one million statements of support within a year with minimum numbers in at least seven member states, the Commission must respond. It will decide whether or not to take action and will explain its decision.
Background
The European Citizens Initiative was introduced with the Lisbon Treaty as a tool for citizens. Since its launch in 2012, it allows citizens to invite the Commission to propose legal acts in areas where it has the power to act. The conditions for admissibility are: (1) the proposed action falls within the Commissions powers to propose a legal act, (2) it is not abusive, frivolous, or vexatious, and (3) it is not contrary to the Unions values. Since its inception, 119 initiatives have been registered.
For More Information
HouseEurope! Power to Renovation
ECIs currently collecting signatures