During his hearing, Günther Oettinger (future Commissioner for Energy) stated that he will ensure the EU will keep on supporting housing energy refurbishment (whithin the framework of a new Energy efficiency action plan due to be adopted by the European Commission by the end of 2010).

This positive signal should be put in the balance with the minimalist approach of the future Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn. Asked by MEPs how he intends to make sure that the use of structural funds for energy efficiency investments in housing will help reducing energy poverty, he answered that all Member States are now allowed to use Structural Funds for this purpose and it is up to them to use it. Does this short answer signal in the future a less ambitious approach from the DG Regional Policy than from DG Energy? 

One may say that, with the future Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Laszlo Ando stressing that energy poverty is not his business, after 1 year of  headlines on housing, much work still need to be done to maintain the visibility and support of the EU on housing issues. CECODHAS-Housing Europe will send letters to future Commissioners once they are officially confirmed by the European Parliament on 9th February, in order to recall our demands and commitments (especially the Copenhagen Commitment) and the need for a clear EU support.