Brussels, 21 October 2024 (MIA) - The European Commission decided Monday to allocate more than EUR 380 million for the realization of 133 green transition projects across Europe, including energy efficiency of buildings in the country.

The financing is being provided under the LIFE Programme, the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action.

The EC said the allocated sum represents over half of the EUR 574 million needed for the projects. The remaining part of the financing will come from national, regional and local governments, public-private partnerships, businesses, and civil society organisations.

In particular, the EU has provided EUR 62 million for climate resilience and climate mitigation projects, EUR 99 million for governance and market solutions to speed up the clean energy transition, EUR 144.5 million for nature and biodiversity projects and EUR 74 million for initiatives supporting circular economy and improving quality of life.

The EUR 1.2 million-worth project in North Macedonia aims to ensure a one stop shop habitat-integrated services for ambitious renovation for clean energy transition in buildings.

During the pilot phase, 200 houses and apartments in Skopje, Kumanovo and Kochani will be renovated, leading to energy savings and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Association "Habitat Macedonia" coordinates the project, based on the alignment of the countrys legislation on energy efficiency with that of the EU.

However, the annual renovation rate is around 1 % in residential buildings, which is far below the EU recommended renovation rates of 5%. Additional efforts on building renovation are required to fully implement EU directives and the “renovation wave”.

Habitat aims to develop and implement integrated services for energy efficiency renovation in buildings and houses (one-stop-shops). The service will be supported by available financing products and subsidies in North Macedonia. This will help address two main challenges: the lack of skills and capacities of homeowners and building owners to set up and implement a complex and ambitious clean energy transition project (energy efficiency, installation of renewable technologies); the lack of financing (loans and credits) for multifamily buildings.

During the pilot phase, it is planned that 200 houses/apartments units will use the service, which will trigger investment in sustainable energy of around EUR 3 million, primary energy savings 3.75 GWh/year, renewable energy generation 2,976 GWh/year and reduction of the greenhouse gases emissions 3584,75 tCO2-eq/year).

MIA file photo