The government under Pedro Sánchez is advancing a regulation that will compel property owners to undertake extensive “sustainable” renovations. While the legislative process is already underway, the crucial aid plan is nowhere to be seen. This plan should have been presented a month ago and is now effectively freezing 9 billion euros in European subsidies intended for citizens and businesses affected by the environmental laws.
The Legal Framework: EU Directives and National Implementation
The Ministry for Ecological Transition, led by Sara Aagesen, has opened the “Draft regulation to govern compliance with minimum energy efficiency requirements in the existing building stock” for public consultation. This is the first step towards creating a law that obligates owners to adapt their existing properties to new environmental standards.
This measure is a direct result of the European policy to combat climate change, particularly the “Green Climate Deal.” The goal: climate neutrality by 2050. A key instrument for this is the “Fit for 55” package, which aims for a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. This is specified in the EU Directive (EU) 2024/1275 on the energy performance of buildings. This directive requires each member state to establish a national plan to transform its entire building stock into an energy-efficient and decarbonized state by 2050. Existing buildings are to be gradually converted into zero-emission buildings. The Spanish government has until May 2026 to implement these requirements into national law.
What’s Coming for Property Owners? The Core Points of the Regulation
The Ministry for Ecological Transition has clearly outlined the main objectives of the new regulation. These include four essential aspects that property owners will face:
- Ensuring Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards: Mandatory minimum energy standards for the building stock will be introduced, especially for non-residential buildings.
- Increased Use of Renewable Energies: The use of clean energy sources in buildings is to be significantly increased.
- Promotion of Sustainable Mobility: This includes measures to create the necessary infrastructure for charging electric vehicles.
- Efficiency of Technical Systems: Particularly in non-residential buildings, technical systems, such as lighting through automatic controls, are to be optimized.
A 9-Billion-Euro Dilemma: Aid Frozen, Owners Left in Uncertainty
While the government pushes forward with the obligations for owners, financial support is lacking. Particularly affected by this initial step are the self-employed and micro-enterprises. The government should have approved a specific aid plan for them back in June. This has not happened. Instead, work is already underway on the regulation that will force these very micro-SMEs, classified by the executive itself as “vulnerable,” to renovate their business premises.
The core problem is a missing national plan for the distribution of aid funds. Without this plan, the funds provided by the European Union cannot be released. Specifically, this involves over 6 billion euros from EU pots, which would grow to a total of 9 billion euros with a 25% national contribution. As long as this plan is not presented, Spain has no access to these funds. According to Sara Aagesen’s ministry, the country is thus missing out on “9 billion for the energy renovation of homes, zero-emission heating and cooling, and sustainable and affordable mobility.” Property owners are left alone with the costs and uncertainty.
