Turning ambitions into concrete actions to deliver the green transition

Why does the EU strongly believe in bottom-up projects to deliver the green transition? 

Because without engaging citizens, we cannot achieve a just and long-term transformation capable of making the Union more resilient and competitive, for the benefit of all.

We discuss this with Julien Tami, a long-serving Policy Officer at the European Commission department responsible for the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. After overseeing transport and infrastructure projects financed by the EU in Africa and Europe, he has more recently shifted his focus to energy and climate policies, supervising the Support Service for Citizen-Led Renovation (CLR).

Why does the EU support citizen-led renovation projects? 

The European Union supports projects such as CLR because they directly contribute to its climate, energy and social objectives. Under the European Green Deal, the EU recognises that buildings are responsible for a significant share of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and that accelerating deep renovation is essential to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. At the same time, renovation rates remain too low due to financial, technical, legal and informational barriers faced by citizens. Citizen-led approaches respond to this challenge by empowering energy communities and local actors to organise collectively, create economies of scale, and access tailored technical and financial support.

What is the relevant EU legislative framework?

The EU legislative framework supporting citizen-led renovation is primarily anchored in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which requires Member States to reduce the energy consumption and emissions of their building stock. The EPBD mandates countries to prepare national building renovation plans and improve building performance standards, creating space for collective renovation approaches. It is meant to be a key pillar of the Renovation Wave Strategy under the European Green Deal, which aims to at least double renovation rates across Europe. Other relevant legislation, such as the Renewable Energy Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive, also promotes citizen participation through energy communities and efficiency measures, reinforcing the role of citizen-led initiatives in accelerating building decarbonisation.

Finally, on 10 March 2026, the European Commission adopted the Citizen Energy Package, aiming at reducing energy bills, protecting and empowering citizens to actively participate in the clean energy transition.

How does the EU envision the role of citizen-led renovation projects in the long term, and how can Member States effectively implement this vision?

The EU’s long-term vision is to make citizen-led renovation a key pillar of the transition to a decarbonised building stock. Within the framework of the European Green Deal and the Renovation Wave Strategy, the goal is to scale up deep renovations while ensuring the transition is socially inclusive and locally driven. Citizen initiatives can mobilise communities, pool resources, and accelerate the uptake of energy-efficient solutions required under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

To realise this vision, Member States should recognise citizen-led initiatives as formal actors and integrate them into national renovation plans. This includes supporting collective renovation models through housing cooperatives and local energy communities, as well as providing targeted funding schemes, simplifying administrative and regulatory frameworks, and facilitating access to financing instruments for cooperative renovation and community energy initiatives. In addition, governments should offer technical assistance and advisory “one-stop shops,” support pilot projects, and foster local ecosystems and knowledge-sharing platforms. By embedding citizen initiatives in planning, financing, and advisory structures, national renovation plans can unlock grassroots engagement and accelerate improvements in building energy performance across Europe.

Why do you think these projects can help the EU meet its ambitious climate neutrality targets? 

Traditional top-down schemes alone have proven insufficient to trigger renovation at the scale required. Citizen-led projects mobilise homeowners collectively, aggregate demand at district, neighbourhood or street level, and facilitate access to finance and technical expertise, thereby accelerating implementation. By creating economies of scale, improving trust, and strengthening local ownership, they can increase the uptake and contribute to the upscale of renovations. In this way, they help close the gap between EU policy ambition and on-the-ground delivery, making climate neutrality by 2050 more achievable in practical terms.

That's exactly what CLR is committed to doing.