Brussels, 14 February. With an overwhelming majority the European Parliament today called for a European Directive to Promote Renewable Heating and Cooling. The Parliamentarians agreed on an Initiative Report drafted by German MEP Mechtild Rothe, which calls the European Commission to come forward with a legislative proposal. In a swift reaction to the clear statement of the Parliament, EU Energy Commissioner Piebalgs announced that the Commission would propose such a directive already in 2006.

Brussels, 26 January – This morning, the ITRE (Committee on Industry, Research and Energy) of the European Parliament adopted the Initiative Report on Renewable Heating and Cooling presented by MEP Mechtild Rothe. The report calls the European Commission to present a Directive Proposal for the promotion of renewable heating and cooling, in order to substantially contribute to "securing European energy supplies and to significantly reduce Europe's dependence on oil and gas in particular". The...

Brussels, 7 December 2005. Today the European Commission announced to "work towards a proposal for Community legislation in 2006 to encourage the use of renewable energy, including biomass, for heating and cooling". The announcement followed a two year campaign, started by the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF), which calls for strong and coherent policy measures to support renewable heating and cooling. ESTIF immediately welcomed the move by the Commission and offered...

German Member of the European Parliament Mechtild Rothe publishes her report on the promotion of heating and cooling from renewable energies.

On Friday, 10 November 2005, the House of Commons took an important step to promote microgeneration and renewable heating technologies when it gave a Second Reading to the "Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill" promoted by Mark Lazarowicz MP.