The Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) is set to instruct the Working Party of Financial Counsellors to examine the European Court of Auditors' (ECA) special report No 20/2026 on improving energy-efficiency of private homes with the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), according to a Council document dated 22 July 2026. The Committee is also asked to approve ECA representatives attending the Working Party's meetings to present the report and answer questions from member state delegations.
The ECA published the special report on 7 July 2026, titled "Improving the energy-efficiency of private homes with the RRF - Broad financial support, but weaknesses in the foundations." Under Council conclusions (doc. 7515/00 + COR 1), any special report must be thoroughly examined by a designated Working Party. The Presidency proposes that the Court of Auditors present its findings to the Working Party of Financial Counsellors, with delegations allowed to ask questions before discussion. The Coreper meeting is scheduled for 2 September 2026.
The report assesses the RRF's support for energy-efficiency renovations in private homes, a key component of the EU's green transition. It finds that while financial support was broad, weaknesses in the design and implementation of national plans undermined effectiveness. The examination by the Working Party will allow member states to scrutinise the findings and consider follow-up actions.
For EU taxpayers, the audit highlights potential inefficiencies in the use of RRF funds, raising accountability concerns. National authorities face pressure to address identified weaknesses in their renovation programmes. The construction and home renovation industry may see changes in future funding criteria, affecting business planning. Environmental NGOs could use the report to advocate for stricter conditions on RRF disbursements for energy efficiency.
After the Working Party's examination, the Council may adopt conclusions on the report, potentially recommending corrective measures. The European Parliament could also take up the findings in its own scrutiny of the RRF. The ECA's recommendations, if endorsed, could influence the design of future EU funding for building renovation.