EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Strasbourg, 16.12.2025

COM(2025) 1027 final

2025/0412(NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION

on the New European Bauhaus

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

•Reasons for and objectives of the proposal

Both the European Parliament 2 and EU Member States 3 have consistently shown strong support for the NEB. The European Economic and Social Committee 4 and the European Committee of the Regions 5  have also issued positive opinions on the initiative. The NEB has generated enthusiasm at grassroots level with a robust membership-based community of almost 2 000 local and international organisations ranging from non-profits and cultural entities to public authorities and businesses, reaching millions of people.

•Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area

•Consistency with other Union policies

Through its truly transdisciplinary, innovative and bottom-up approach, the NEB contributes to several Commission priorities.

The NEB promotes a sustainable and competitive economy by driving decarbonisation in the built environment, accelerating the move towards clean and cheaper energy, and promoting circular design and resilient models in different economic sectors. It also encourages innovation and skills development for the clean transition, inspiring sustainable practices globally, including for Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts. It strengthens Europe’s social model by e.g. addressing housing affordability and improving our quality of life and it helps to protect Europe’s cultural heritage. By putting people and stakeholders front and centre of change through participation and co-creation, the NEB promotes a culture of creativity, inclusion and dialogue that ultimately strengthens trust in democratic processes and European values also ensuring that the produced outcomes are fit for the realities and demands of society and stakeholders.

2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

•Legal basis

•Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)

•Proportionality

•Choice of the instrument

3.RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

•Stakeholder consultations

·the Commission expert group for the New European Bauhaus Facility (26 September 2025);

·the Green Cities Network (8 October 2025);

·the NEB Community (online workshop, 10 October 2025);

·the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT);

·Member States representatives, in particular: the NEB National Contact Points (NCPs), NEB Horizon Europe R&I National Contact Points, the Strategic Programme Committee for Horizon Europe, the environmental attaches, as well as managing authorities responsible for implementing the NEB in cohesion policy (25 October 2025, 5 November 2025, and three follow-up targeted sessions on 3-4 November 2025).

•Impact assessment

•Fundamental rights

4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS

5.OTHER ELEMENTS

•Explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal

2025/0412 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION

on the New European Bauhaus

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 292 and 192 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)The New European Bauhaus (NEB) aims to implement the clean transition and the Clean Industrial Deal via tangible projects which improve daily lives through solutions which combine sustainability with good design, inclusivity, accessibility, and affordability, enhancing innovation in industrial ecosystems to unlock competitiveness, respecting and promoting Europe's diverse places, cultural heritage and cultural diversity. By fostering co-creation processes with local communities, stakeholders and businesses, the initiative promotes solutions that are tailored to societal needs and supported by a broad base of citizens and can be replicated and scaled up in similar contexts across the EU.

(2)In 2021, the European Commission adopted a Communication 8 presenting the concept and objectives of the NEB, which is guided by three inseparable values (sustainability, inclusiveness, and aesthetics) and three principles (multilevel engagement, participatory approach, and transdisciplinarity).

(3)Both the European Parliament 9 and the EU Member States 10 have consistently shown strong support for the NEB. The European Economic and Social Committee 11 and the European Committee of the Regions 12 have also issued positive opinions on the initiative.

(4)In five years, the NEB built a robust membership-based community 13 of almost 2 000 local and international organisations ranging from non-profits and cultural entities to public authorities and businesses. Over 700 projects have already been supported. Under the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) EUR 1.4 billion have been devoted to the NEB. The bulk of the funding stems from cohesion policy (over EUR 840 million) and Horizon Europe (over EUR 530 million). Other EU programmes (LIFE, Single Market Programme, Digital Europe and COSME) are contributing with around EUR 26 million. 

(5)In the political guidelines for the European Commission 2024-2029 14 , the NEB is part of the Commission’s overall objective of ‘Supporting people, strengthening our societies and our social model’, with the goal of bringing sustainability together with inclusion and affordability, and creativity with innovation. Enlarging the NEB Community would serve to advance this goal and make sure relevant stakeholders can contribute effectively.

(6)The values and principles of the NEB can help Europe’s move towards a more competitive and sustainable future. By embedding the NEB values into existing national and local strategies centred around the built environment, Member States can turn the clean and digital transitions into tangible opportunities for citizens and businesses across Europe. By strengthening innovation, industrial excellence and skills, the NEB can help create resilient value chains and high-quality jobs across Europe, ensuring that the clean transition reinforces Europe’s global competitiveness. However, such integration and mainstreaming are currently unequal across the Union, leading to uneven opportunities for stakeholders and authorities, in particular at the local level. Member States can build on existing good practices of multilevel and cross-sectoral governance. Mainstreaming the NEB values and principles into all relevant policies and funding instruments at national, regional and local level is necessary to support the transformative regeneration of neighbourhoods and strengthen their social fabric, and to promote those values and principles for the built environment and relevant sectors.

(7)Member States have a range of tools at their disposal to embed NEB values and principles that promote a sustainable, inclusive, accessible and affordable built environment, into their National Buildings Renovation Plans, Territorial Just Transition Plans, Social Climate Plans and other national or EU plans and strategies 15 . Those could be used to support mainstreaming and integration of the NEB objectives, through an integrated approach, and to promote synergies between different goals such as energy efficiency and decarbonisation, climate resilience, water resilience, affordability, sustainability and accessibility, particularly in the context of neighbourhood regeneration.

(8)There is a strong opportunity for a more efficient use of resources within the built environment. Currently, construction, use and renovation of buildings require significant amounts of energy and mineral resources, accounting for 42% of the total energy consumption, 35% of greenhouse gas emissions, 50% of all material extraction, and 35% of the EU’s total waste generation 16 . These activities also contribute to water consumption, and exacerbate air, water and soil pollution, noise pollution, land use, soil sealing and urban sprawl.

(9)To reach its 2050 climate neutrality target, the EU adopted several legal acts to reduce the environmental and climate footprint of buildings throughout their life cycle. Those are complemented by a variety of non-legislative policy initiatives ranging from calculation methodologies and tools to industry pathways, plans, strategies and funding, including on ‘Supporting life-cycle approaches to decarbonise European buildings’, to be published by the Commission in January 2026, the common framework of core sustainability indicators for office and residential buildings 17 , or rules on alignment of EU budget expenditure with do no significant harm criteria 18 . These and the EU Bioeconomy Strategy 19  help overcoming barriers to market entry and support the creation of lead-markets for low-carbon, circular, clean and biobased building materials and clean technologies, thus supporting sustainable business models, sustainable and resilient industrial ecosystems, jobs and value creation in the EU.

(10)NEB projects enhance the competitive and innovative edge of the construction, water and bioeconomy industries through the prototyping and upscaling of technologies for decarbonised circular and nature-positive design, the optimisation of construction methods, addressing standards and reducing costs to create markets for innovative materials, thus supporting resource-efficient, cost-effective, and innovative growth while ensuring a sustainable use of limited natural resources.

(11)A more efficient use of the built environment - buildings, urban landscapes, public spaces, green spaces - will support the adaptation of the existing building stock to people’s needs in terms of space and accessibility, while respecting planetary boundaries. Prioritising the efficient use of built space through renovation or refurbishment 20  over demolition and new construction, as well as new social practices, represent a considerable potential to reduce the environmental and climate footprint of the building stock 21 , deliver affordable and sustainable housing for all, slowing down urban sprawl and soil sealing, fostering social cohesion and acceptance while protecting cultural heritage.

(12)Local communities are at the forefront of the negative impacts of climate hazards and environmental degradation, such as the increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves, floods, wildfires or earthquakes, which are exacerbated by the interaction with other drivers such as poor air, water and soil quality or soil sealing. Between 2011 and 2021, there was an increase of over 935 000 people in Europe living in potential riverine flood-prone areas. 22  In the period 2017-2019, on average 119 000 people per year in the EEA countries and the UK lived in areas assessed as burnt by wildfires. 23  To support local resilience and crisis preparedness, standards on adapting buildings to climate change 24 as well as on flood and wildfire prevention, green areas, urban ecosystem restoration could be integrated into regulatory and financial tools as well as in related trainings and education 25 .

(13)Green-blue infrastructures are crucial for climate adaptation, biodiversity, and public health. Reallocation and redesign of urban public space in line with the NEB values can be supported by integrated urban mobility concepts (e.g. SUMPS) that enable these transformations while maintaining accessibility to jobs, services and amenities. Streets and public spaces allow social interaction, well-being, and climate action rather than being merely transit corridors.

(14)EU policies include specific measures and tools to protect disadvantaged groups, in particular related to energy and mobility poverty, air pollution, access to clean drinking water and sanitation. The NEB projects contribute to environmental and climate fairness while also strengthening social inclusion, intergenerational fairness, gender equality and crime prevention, including gender-based violence.

(15)Participation is a founding principle of the NEB. Its projects, funding, digital tools, and capacity building are good examples of the promotion, incentivisation and support for participation and local democracy policies and practices, in particular on spatial and urban design and the transformation of neighbourhoods.

(16)Participation in urban development processes presents a significant opportunity both for communities and for project developers. Genuine involvement of citizens, including those who are energy poor or otherwise disadvantaged, in the design and governance of projects builds trust, preserves democratic accountability, and strengthens the social fabric. Such engagement, through citizen assemblies and co-design workshops, anchors projects in local realities and prevents tokenism, fostering resilient and inclusive societies. For project developers, this community and stakeholder buy-in can lead to expedited permitting processes, smoother project implementation and ultimately community acceptance and lower risks. 

(17)By leveraging digital tools like the EU Local Digital Twins Toolbox, advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models for reconstruction, digital building logbooks and digital pre-demolition audits, public involvement in decision-making and policy development becomes more transparent, efficient, and responsive. Strengthening the operational capacities of authorities through existing resources and platforms, such as peer-to-peer learning opportunities and technical support, ensures effective guidance and support in implementing the NEB values and principles, fostering community-driven solutions and enhancing societal resilience.

(18)Lack of skills in the construction sector, notably for circular and sustainable construction, is a major issue for the construction industry. In 2022, the Commission launched the NEB Academy on skills for sustainable construction to contribute to a broader effort to accelerate the upskilling and reskilling of workers in the construction ecosystem and support its clean transition. The Commission will scale up the NEB Academy and develop it into the core infrastructure for the NEB for knowledge and research, safe experimentation and innovation, and skills development. The NEB Academy will also provide a dynamic link to ensure that all knowledge produced under the NEB Facility R&I is channelled towards skilling activities, capacity-building and applied innovation. The NEB Academy will develop a NEB Investment Accelerator to attract and facilitate allocation of private and blended funding to innovative NEB projects.

(19)The Davos Declaration ‘Towards a high-quality Baukultur for Europe’ acknowledges the cultural aspects of preservation, planning and building and established high-quality Baukultur (culture of architecture) as a political priority. The Council Conclusions on culture, high-quality architecture and built environment as key elements of the New European Bauhaus initiative adopted on 29-30 November 2021 invited Member States and the Commission to promote a culture-led, quality-driven and participatory approach to the built environment and to apply high-quality standards in planning, design, building, conservation, restoration, renovation and adaptive reuse processes.

(20)NEB projects show that embedding artists in technological and scientific environments sparks paradigm-shifting collaborations leading to innovation and concrete outputs. The Commission Communication on a Culture Compass for Europe adopted on 12 November 2025 acknowledges the importance of promoting a shared culture of architecture and design and to invest in a high-quality living environment for everyone through initiatives like the NEB. While the role of artists and cultural professionals as change-makers and innovators is essential to translate and implement NEB values on the ground, their mobilisation and access to funding are still insufficient, especially for small players, to fully harness the potential of their visions and their creative approaches. Breaking the silos among cultural and creative sectors as well as between art, science and technology is also a challenge that still needs to be addressed by creating and supporting more transdisciplinary collaboration opportunities.

(21)As of 2025, the NEB has its own funding instrument anchored in Horizon Europe, the NEB Facility, designed to increase impact, transparency, and simplify access for applicants. The NEB Facility operates until 2027 providing financial support and a strategic framework to achieve the NEB objectives. The NEB Facility Roadmap, outlines the foreseen actions and strategic directions between 2025 and 2027 26 . A Research and Innovation component is endowed with an annual budget of approximately EUR 120 million from Horizon Europe. A complementary Roll-out component, focussing on deployment and technical assistance, is expected to leverage a similar level of investment and will be supported from other EU programmes, as well as by Member States and private sources. Member States are already embracing the NEB values and principles in their funding programmes in diverse ways, reflecting their unique contexts, heritage, and community spirit. All Member States have included the NEB in at least one of their cohesion policy programmes for 2021–2027. Ensuring sustainable funding for the NEB in the long term is vital, in particular in the context of the transition to the next MFF.

(22)Transformative projects need to also attract private funding. In 2024, the NEB Investment Guidelines were developed to help investors align their projects with the NEB values and principles to transform Europe's built environment. The Guidelines were developed in close cooperation between the European Commission and Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions (JASPERS). With the support of a European Parliament pilot project 27 , and building on the experience of initiatives such as the Business Acceleration Services of the EIC - the EIC marketplace and the Horizon Results Platform - the Commission will launch an Advisory Hub, an interactive platform to facilitate the matchmaking between small projects looking for access to financing and social economy investors, philanthropy organisations, and other private and public investors. The EU Taxonomy 28  also helps investors identify environmentally sustainable construction and renovation projects.

(23)The NEB Compass 29 is the guiding framework on how to apply the NEB values and principles in practice. A NEB Hub for Results and Impact 30 has been established to collect, analyse, and distil the lessons learned, as well as tools and knowledge generated by the NEB. A NEB self-assessment method 31 was developed for project developers and decision makers to facilitate their self-assessment on the performance of the project in terms of NEB values. The Commission will also establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for measuring the transformational impact of NEB projects and will develop a NEB Label to increase visibility for NEB projects, to support Member States in promoting NEB projects and practices and to facilitate market integration by providing a standardised framework and criteria across Member States. The coherent use of those tools by Member States would reduce fragmentation and promote consistency in implementation, enhancing competitiveness within the internal market as well as dissemination of scalable and replicable solutions across Europe through cross-country inspiration and sharing of good practices.

(24)Together with the NEB Community, the European Commission has developed supporting structures that foster engagement and collaboration. NEB Local Chapters are self-organised, place-based groups of NEB Community members that contribute to the delivery of NEB in local environments. NEB Labs are ‘think-and-do tanks’ of the initiative, set up by Community members to co-create, prototype and test the tools, solutions. New Labs are being created to address priority issues, and a NEB Lab on affordable housing will be set up to collect best practices on innovative methods such as offsite constructions or additive manufacturing, densification and housing solutions for disadvantaged groups, or innovative accessibility adaptations. The European Commission will set up a European Housing Alliance as a hub for cooperation, mutual learning and the exchange of best practices bringing together all levels of government. This Alliance will foster synergies with NEB practitioners and NEB Community members, including the NEB Lab on Housing.

(25)Coordination and multilevel governance of the NEB have been evolving in tandem with the initiative itself. In 2021, Member States established NEB National Contact Points (NCPs), to implement the NEB at the national level and coordinate cross relevant areas. With the creation of the NEB Facility, which is anchored in Horizon Europe 32 , NEB R&I NCPs were also established. Both networks are key in the preparation and implementation of the NEB Facility, addressing together both its R&I and Roll-out components. A dedicated network to support managing authorities implementing the NEB in cohesion policy 33 was also established. However, more coordination and synergies need to develop between the different networks, to ensure coherence and impact. 

(26)The NEB is also inspiring third countries, and more international collaborations can foster exchanges of knowledge and good practices. The Commission and the EU Delegations in third countries are cooperating to promote the NEB approach outside the EU, notably through the establishment of NEB Academy Hubs outside the EU. The NEB has provided in particular support for Ukraine’s sustainable and inclusive reconstruction. Through EU programmes such as LIFE, Horizon Europe, and Interreg, the NEB has enabled projects like the circular renovation of panelka buildings in Chernihiv, sustainable land use initiatives under Interreg Danube, and green urban restoration in the Black Sea Basin. NEB Labs and Prizes are fostering innovation and co-creation, including the Future School for Ukraine and Public Infrastructure Lab. Ukrainian stakeholders and authorities have shown an increasing interest in adopting a NEB approach for their reconstruction initiatives, and more efforts should be made to support them. Additional support from the Commission and the EU Member States would allow them to accelerate their sustainable and inclusive reconstruction, together with local communities.

(27)The Commission will monitor the progress on the NEB through the regular meetings with Member States representatives, in particular the NEB NCPs. The Commission intends to support Member States in implementing the NEB at the national level and has announced supporting actions and future priorities in the Commission Communication adopted on 16 December 2025 34 . The NEB translates these priorities into tangible improvements in daily living, supporting better neighbourhood design, healthier environments and more inclusive public spaces.

HAS ADOPTED THIS RECOMMENDATION

1.Mainstream NEB values and principles 

(a)It is recommended that Member States, at the appropriate levels of competence and in respect of the subsidiarity principle, embed the New European Bauhaus (NEB) values and principles in their relevant policies and funding instruments linked to neighbourhoods and the wider built environment. Building on the lessons learnt from successful projects, initiatives and governance structures, Member States are encouraged to take a strategic approach to the NEB at national, local and regional levels, identifying all the relevant policies and funding instruments which can support the NEB mainstreaming in their Member States, as well as the relevant actors and networks who should be involved;

(b)Member States are encouraged to use and promote the supporting tools provided through the NEB Academy as well as the NEB Label to foster affordable, sustainable and high-quality transformation of the built environment and other sectors, with a view to promote increasing harmonisation of methods, practices and innovative approaches across Europe.

2.Enhance sustainability of the built environment

It is recommended that Member States:

(a)Promote a clean, circular, climate-neutral and resilient, energy and water efficient built environment and thereby support affordable and sustainable housing, by:

(1)Considering using public procurement to promote sustainable, circular and socially fair renovation and construction of buildings;

(2)Applying a whole-life carbon approach to the construction and renovation of buildings, as per the guidance to be provided by the Commission, supporting measures 35  to effectively reduce the whole life-cycle carbon emissions from the building sector via a harmonised Union framework and methodology 36 ;

(3)In their National Building Renovation Plans and relevant national, regional and local strategies relating to buildings, prioritising energy and water performance, affordability and sustainability, addressing in particular disadvantaged households.

(4)Promoting that new buildings, as well as those undergoing major renovation, are designed and prepared for smart measurement and management of water and electricity to ensure water savings 37 as well as reduction in operational costs for buildings, as well as electric vehicle charging possibilities;

(5)Reviewing how incentives could promote water resilience and water efficiency and ensure further circular use of resources across the built environment. 

(b)Develop solutions to unlock the untapped potential of a competitive and sustainable bioeconomy industry, supporting market acceptance and uptake and the smooth functioning of the internal market for job creation and growth, in particular for the built environment and textiles, as set out in the EU Bioeconomy Strategy.

(1)Reviewing how markets and taxes provide appropriate incentives for sustainable production and consumption to support an appropriate shift from using fossil based to circular bio-based materials and clean resources;

(2)Assessing how and whether public procurement is used to create market opportunities to support bio-based constructions and clean technologies and resources, in line with ongoing EU efforts on simplification and streamlining 38 ;

(3)Identifying and addressing regulatory barriers and other obstacles to market entry for innovative construction methods and materials such as low-carbon and bio-based materials, offsite construction and additive manufacturing in construction, and informing the European Commission about market fragmentation caused by divergent national rules and interpretations and conflicting EU rules through the European Bioeconomy Regulators’ and Innovators’ Forum and the High Level Construction Forum;

(c)Prioritise and incentivise an efficient use of the built environment in spatial planning and development decisions, with a view to promoting social and affordable housing, preventing spatial segregation and promoting the revitalisation of neighbourhoods, including in rural areas, in particular by:

(1)Mapping vacant buildings and their suitability for sufficiency measures and making this information available to competent authorities and to the actors of the building sector; Incentivising the transformation of vacant buildings into affordable, sustainable and quality housing, using renovations, extensions, refurbishing, changes of use, or adapting built spaces to the evolving needs of households; explore the underused housing potential in rural neighbourhoods through measures to develop their accessibility and connectivity;

(2)Streamlining, simplifying and accelerating zoning and building permitting procedures in particular for renovation, vertical extension and sustainable refurbishment of buildings which can increase housing supply;

(3)Facilitate the development of NEB good practices and blueprints, such as those on resilient housing that the Commission will develop through a digital Catalogue;

(d)Advance the NEB values and principles to strengthen neighbourhoods and communities’ crisis preparedness and resilience to health risks and natural disasters caused by climate change and environmental degradation, in particular by:

(1)Systematically integrating nature-based solutions, nature restoration and water resilience, disaster- and crisis prevention and preparedness, in particular measures on wildfire, water, flood risks and urban canopy management as well as on the sustainable recovery of affected areas into spatial design, as well as promoting them through capacity building with all competent authorities and through training modules for relevant degrees and vocational training; 

(2)Promoting the assessment of the distribution of urban green space and tree canopy cover in the different cities and towns, looking at how future planned development will actively integrate urban green space into buildings and infrastructure in different localities and regions and help mitigate the impacts of climate change.

(3)Promoting NEB Local Chapters with local authorities and relevant actors to strengthen neighbourhoods’ resilience, increase communities’ awareness and co-design community led solutions, including by exploiting digital and scientific tools – such as scenario-based analysis;

(4)Consulting with relevant stakeholders, including insurers, in view of reviewing practices based on the ‘build back the same’-principle to reflect changing climate conditions;

(5)Exploring measures in financing tools to help alleviate negative health impacts caused by climate change and environmental degradation, including heat exposure, air pollution, noise, and lack of access to green areas, paying special attention to the disproportionate exposure of sensitive populations and disadvantaged groups.

(e)Incentivise the use of digital solutions for circularity and energy efficiency for a competitive clean transition, in particular:

(1)Promoting the implementation of tools such as the Digital Product Passport, Energy Performance Certificates, digital building permits, digital building logbooks, digital pre-demolition audits and other digital solutions for carbon lifecycle tracking and fostering shared digital infrastructures and tools supporting data-driven decision-making smart urban planning, energy, mobility and water management, in synergy with the Digital Decade Policy Programme;

(2)Promoting digital by design principles that include accessibility, interoperability, energy- and water-efficient ICT in urban planning, also supporting simplification through a digital toolbox with model-based permitting, rule-as-code compliance, and once-only reporting.

3.Enhance participation, local democracy and digital co-design tools in sustainable urban and neighbourhood development 

It is recommended that Member States:

(a)Build on the NEB Hub for results and impact 39  to progressively integrate the results of NEB projects to user perspectives in the spatial design and/or transformation of public spaces and to support and promote energy and water-aware communities, citizen-led renovation and clean energy sharing initiatives, empowering local actors and fostering inclusive, community-driven solutions;

(b)Promote NEB projects and policy practices for enhancing local democracy, inclusion and participation in urban planning and neighbourhood development, by supporting innovative approaches to community engagement at the level of neighbourhoods, thereby contributing to implementing the Democracy Shield on the ground;

(c)Consult and engage persons with disabilities and older people, to support independent living and inclusion in the community and solutions that are accessible by design;

(d)Promote the meaningful involvement of women and the integration of a gender-sensitive approach to the design and development of public spaces and neighbourhoods, with the aim of inclusive and safe environments. 

(e)Strengthen the operational capacities of relevant authorities to provide effective guidance and support for learning about the values and principles of the NEB, how to use NEB tools and guidance on NEB funding instruments. To this end, make use of existing opportunities offered by the European Commission, such as:

(1) the EU Local Digital Twins Toolbox and ‘Local Digital for Reconstruction’ solutions; 

(2)the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) 40 ; 

(3)the Public Administration Cooperation Exchange (PACE) 41 ;

(4) peer-to-peer learning opportunities offered by: 

·Cohesion policy, particularly under the REGIO P2P NEB Community, to exchange good practices and knowledge on NEB among Managing Authorities and other relevant bodies and encourage further investments on NEB under the 2021-2027 cohesion policy programmes; 

·The capacity building strand of the European Urban Initiative, supporting both cities and managing authorities in mainstreaming NEB values and principles within sustainable urban development strategies;

·The action ‘Contributing to the implementation of the NEB Facility with the support of Horizon Europe New European Bauhaus R&I and New European Bauhaus National Contact Points’ 42 ;

·The EU Competence Centre on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy 43  and its related network of national reference centres.

4.Harness the transformative power of education, arts and culture for the clean transition 

It is recommended that Member States:

(a)Acknowledge and support cultural participation and the contribution of artists, creative professionals and culture-led experiments as a driver for innovation, local development and out-of-the-box thinking to drive the clean transition (in line with the Culture Compass for Europe), and better promote NEB opportunities among cultural and creative sectors; 

(b)Support the Commission proposal to strengthen the European Capitals of Culture in a way that synergises with the values and principles of the NEB. Fully implement the commitments from the 2018 Davos Declaration ‘Towards a high-quality Baukultur for Europe’ 44 to embed the cultural aspects of preservation, planning and building in relevant national strategies. Follow up on the 2021 Council conclusions on ‘culture, high-quality architecture and built environment as key elements of the New European Bauhaus initiative’ by integrating NEB values and principles into national policies governing architecture and the built environment;

(c)Foster and, where necessary, recover traditional knowledge and skills in craftsmanship, especially in valorising cultural heritage buildings, and inspire innovations that can bridge past and present technologies and engage the cultural and creative sectors;

(d)Promote the NEB Route within DiscoverEU;

(e)Support educational programmes and curricula embedding the NEB values and principles in schools and higher education institutions. 

5.Improve knowledge, innovation capacities and skills through the NEB Academy tools and initiatives

Member States are encouraged to:

(a)Promote and facilitate the uptake of knowledge, innovation tools and education and training programmes developed through the NEB Academy to support the transition to a sustainable construction ecosystem and clean solutions as well as putting in place new NEB Academy Hubs and expanding existing ones, with a view to develop hubs presence in all Member States;

(b)Promote NEB research collaboration among students in diverse fields relevant to the built and natural environments including architecture, engineering, and planning.

(c)Support the Commission in mapping NEB projects implemented through different EU, national or regional funding instruments - including those under shared management - and in sharing good practices and support the Commission in developing KPIs for measuring the transformational impact of NEB projects and their benefits for sustainable growth and prosperity and integrate them where relevant in their policies and activities; 

(d)Integrate the NEB values and principles in the development and implementation of the national and regional strategies addressing skills gaps, as well as in the Large-Scale and Regional Skills Partnerships under the Pact for skills, in particular the Construction Large-Scale Partnership;

(e)Support and promote NEB-relevant vocational education and training (VET) as well as reskilling and upskilling programmes, notably those developed through the EIT and Erasmus+;

6.Raise Awareness and engagement on the NEB and its Community

Member States are encouraged to:

(a)Support projects that will be receiving a NEB Label to be developed and piloted by the European Commission, including through advisory services, by providing visibility and facilitating access to funding, and by recognising the NEB Label as a quality criterion within funding programmes and calls;

(b)Support the Commission in its efforts to enlarge and diversify the NEB Community and engage with their country’s members of the NEB Community to understand and support their needs and proposals, create synergies including with relevant national and regional activities, also by raising awareness about the NEB initiative and its opportunities for academia, professionals, industry, civil society and public authorities;

(c)Develop, where possible, national NEB prizes or NEB categories in relevant national prizes in synergy with the EU NEB Prizes;

(d)Increase awareness and encourage participation of relevant stakeholders in the Member States in the biennial NEB Festival and ensure the organisation of national, regional or local satellite events in all Member States.

7.Improve Access to funding and investments

Member States are encouraged to:

(a)Exploit the funding opportunities offered by the NEB Facility for both its R&I and Roll-out components, by increasing awareness among all relevant stakeholders and potential beneficiaries, supporting them to participate and providing feedback to the Commission on how to improve it. Ensure funding in the long term, including within the next MFF;

(b)Fulfil the commitments to implement NEB in cohesion policy programmes, by launching concrete calls for the implementation of NEB in relevant policy areas according to the recent mid-term review, including by maximising private investment via the NEB territorial development model (NEB TDM) financial instrument; exploit cohesion policy programmes to in particular develop one NEB Lighthouse in each Member State;

8.Ensure an Effective NEB multilevel governance and a central role of the NEB National Contact Points

It is recommended that Member States:

(a)Recognise and promote the central coordinating role of the NEB National Contact Points (NCPs) in the governance of the NEB at the national level, as well as support their capacity, also in synergy with the upcoming EU Housing Alliance to ensure coherence and integration of the NEB approach. Clarify together with the Commission the definition of the core tasks for NEB NCPs and define additional country-specific roles if needed. Host a meeting between NEB National Contact Points during each Presidency of the Council of the EU in conjunction with relevant gatherings;

(b)Ensure a cross-sectorial and multilevel governance for the NEB at the national level, based on existing good practices, through coordination and mainstreaming of NEB values and principles in the planning and implementation of NEB-relevant funding and policy initiatives. Facilitate coordination and collaboration between the NEB NCPs and other relevant networks, in particular Horizon Europe NEB R&I NCPs and managing authorities for cohesion policy;

(c)Promote the NEB approach and tools in their relevant international exchanges with third countries. Support in particular the sustainable and inclusive reconstruction of Ukraine through pilot projects and demonstrators - such as for schools, public spaces, protection of cultural heritage and circular reconstruction -, knowledge creation and exchange, as well as to consolidate the upcoming NEB Academy Hub in Ukraine as competence and support centre for stakeholders and local authorities for capacity building and sharing of innovative replicable solutions.

Done at Strasbourg,

(1)    More information on the NEB values and principles, is available in the NEB Compass .

(2)    See European Parliament resolution of 14 September 2022 on the New European Bauhaus, 2021/2255(INI) . Additionally, the European Parliament has supported the initiative with a preparatory action (‘New European Bauhaus Knowledge Management Platform’) and a pilot project (‘Stimulating Local and Regional New European Bauhaus Grassroots Projects’).

(3)    Council conclusions on culture, high-quality architecture and built environment as key elements of the New European Bauhaus initiative, 14534/21 .

(4)    See https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/our-work/opinions-information-reports/opinions/new-european-bauhaus .

(5)    See https://web.cor.europa.eu/ea/News/Pages/CoR-members-adopt-McCarthy's-opinion-on-the-New-European-Bauhaus.aspx .

(6)    Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions A Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy ( COM/2025/960 )

(7)

   Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, pp. 389–405) 

(8)    Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions New European Bauhaus, COM(2021) 573 .

(9)    See European Parliament resolution of 14 September 2022 on the new European Bauhaus, 2021/2255(INI) . Additionally, the European Parliament has supported the initiative with a preparatory action (‘New European Bauhaus Knowledge Management Platform’) and a pilot project (‘Stimulating Local and Regional New European Bauhaus Grassroots Projects’).

(10)    See Council conclusions on culture, high-quality architecture and built environment as key elements of the New European Bauhaus initiative, 14534/21 .

(11)    See https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/our-work/opinions-information-reports/opinions/new-european-bauhaus .

(12)    See  https://web.cor.europa.eu/ea/News/Pages/CoR-members-adopt-McCarthy's-opinion-on-the-New-European-Bauhaus.aspx .

(13)    See Community is the core of New European Bauhaus - New European Bauhaus

(14)    See Priorities 2024-2029 - European Commission

(15)    Such as Climate City Contracts (Cities Mission), SECAPs (Covenant of Mayors), Local Heating and Cooling Plans (Directive (EU) 2023/1791).

(16)    See EEA report ‘ Addressing the environmental and climate footprint of buildings ’, 2024.

(17)    See Level(s) .

(18)    See  DNSH technical guidance to the SCF - European Commission . and the EU Taxonomy Regulation and its delegated acts include provisions aiming to reduce buildings’ environmental footprint.

(19)    Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions A Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy ( COM/2025/960 )

(20)    ‘Refurbishment’ includes changes of space plan or of function to new use, not typically covered by renovation, in line with the standards set the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) .

(21)    Based on Commission studies: Conversion of offices into affordable housing , Sufficiency in the built sector and on a more efficient use of the building stock (results mid-2027).

(22)    See EEA report on Europe’s Environment , 2025

(23)    Ibidem

(24)    See EU-level technical guidance on adapting buildings to climate change  

(25)    See Handbook on urban greening strategies and nature plans (2025).

(26)    The Roadmap details the budget, governance, and key measures and provides guidance by outlining how the Commission, in close collaboration with Member States and NEB stakeholders, will implement the NEB Facility.

(27)    ‘Stimulating Local and Regional New European Bauhaus Grassroots Projects’

(28)    Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, pp. 13–43, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/852/oj ).

(29)    See https://new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu/tools-and-resources/use-compass_en  

(30)    Implemented through the topic ’HORIZON-MISS-2024-NEB-01-03: Setting up a New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact‘ and the follow up action ’NEB Hub – Phase II: advancing impact, knowledge management and monitoring of results’, the later in the Horizon Europe ‘main‘ Work Programme 2026-2027, Annex 13 - New European Bauhaus Facility. 

(31)    See https://new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu/tools-and-resources/neb-self-assessment-method_en  

(32)    See Annex 13 to Commission Implementing Decision on the financing of the Specific Programme implementing Horizon Europe and the adoption of the work programme for 2025-2027 (‘Work Programme 2025’) and amending Implementing Decision C(2022)7550 on the adoption of the work programme for 2023-2024 within the framework of the Specific Programme implementing Horizon Europe - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation and on its financing (C(2025) 2779);

(33)    The NEB Peer2Peer (P2P) Community facilitates the exchange of best practices and knowledge on the NEB among Managing Authorities and other relevant bodies: https://futurium.ec.europa.eu/en/regio-peer-2-peer-communities/new-european-bauhaus

(34)     Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the New European Bauhaus: From vision to implementation (COM (2025)1026)

(35)    See Recital 11 for example of such measures.

(36)    See Commission delegated regulation (EU) 2025/xxxx amending Annex III to Directive (EU) 2024/1275 on the Union framework for the national calculation of life-cycle global warming potential. C(2025) 8723 - PE/2025/8966

(37)    In line with the Commission Recommendation on guiding principles of water efficiency first .

(38)    In the context of the ongoing review of EU public procurement directives, legislative proposal foreseen for mid-2026.

(39)    Implemented through the topic ’HORIZON-MISS-2024-NEB-01-03: Setting up a New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact‘ and the follow up action ’NEB Hub – Phase II: advancing impact, knowledge management and monitoring of results’, the later in the Horizon Europe ‘main‘ Work Programme 2026-2027, Annex 13 - New European Bauhaus Facility.

(40)    See Technical Support Instrument (TSI)

(41)    See TSI 2026 - PACE - Public Administration Cooperation Exchange - Reform Support

(42)    Horizon Europe ’main‘ Work Programme 2026-2027, Annex 13 – New European Bauhaus Facility.

(43)     EU Competence Centre on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy

(44)    See https://davosdeclaration2018.ch/en/