A group of 37 MEPs, led by Catherine Griset (PfE), has asked the European Commission whether its energy performance policies are undermining Member States' ability to protect vulnerable populations from extreme heat. In a written parliamentary question dated 17 July 2026, the MEPs warn that EU rules on building energy performance and cooling equipment regulation may make it more costly or difficult to install cooling systems in schools, hospitals, homes for the elderly, and other critical buildings. They argue that decarbonisation goals should not come at the expense of public health, especially for the elderly, children, hospitalised patients, and people with disabilities.
first, how the Commission will ensure that decarbonisation objectives do not hinder Member States from protecting populations against heat-related health risks; second, whether it intends to propose changes to give Member States the flexibility to equip critical buildings with cooling solutions where necessary for public health. The MEPs frame the issue as a tension between EU climate ambitions and national public health priorities, suggesting that current rules may be too rigid.
This is a parliamentary question under the EU's scrutiny mechanisms, meaning the Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal whether the Commission sees a need to adjust its energy performance framework to accommodate heat resilience, or whether it considers existing flexibilities sufficient. The question touches on a growing policy cleavage: decarbonisation of the building sector versus adaptation to extreme heat, with implications for national authorities, healthcare institutions, and building owners who face costs for installing cooling equipment.