The report 'Policy framework: an overview of European policies for energy efficiency in historic buildings' explores energy efficiency in historic buildings in Sweden, Spain, Poland, and Scotland, highlighting the balance between conservation and sustainability, synthesising policy analysis and insights from 25 stakeholder interviews. 

Key European directives like the EPBD and European Green Deal are examined, revealing both commonalities, such as heritage protection systems and exemptions, and differences, like centralisation and flexibility in implementation. 

Stakeholders stress the need for clearer guidelines, while the report underscores the importance of funding, collaboration, and robust evaluation to address retrofitting challenges.

The report advocates collaboration to address retrofitting challenges while preserving cultural heritage, informing sustainable policy development.