The EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD IV) entered into force in May 2024. It requires member states to introduce minimum energy performance standards for existing buildings, with the worst-performing properties facing restrictions on sale and rental from 2030 onwards. Norway is currently evaluating EPBD IV for inclusion in the EEA Agreement. But Norwegian banks are already exposed. Why it matters for lenders Buildings that do not meet future minimum standar

In January 2025, the European Commission published the Competitiveness Compass, setting out its priorities for European competitiveness over the next five years. One of its central initiatives was the Omnibus package — a wide-ranging simplification of EU sustainability legislation covering CSRD, CSDDD, and the EU Taxonomy. The Omnibus I Directive was proposed on 26 February 2025, adopted by the Council on 24 February 2026, and published in the Official Journal of the European

Robustness is used across the real estate sector: in design processes, life-cycle assessments, risk analysis, and reporting. But when robustness enters investment and portfolio decisions, the question changes fundamentally. What does robustness actually mean when it needs to translate into lettability, CAPEX/OPEX, financing terms, and ultimately value? A converging set of pressures Real estate is facing a convergence of demands: tightening energy requirements, increasing repo