Post-1905 religious buildings: possibility of subsidizing energy renovation

"The government has given its agreement in principle to support legislative change so that public authorities can subsidize energy renovation work carried out in buildings owned by religious associations, built after 1905, for all religions", indicated to the AFP the entourage of Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who received a delegation from the CEF.

Currently, the municipalities can subsidize this work for religious heritage prior to the 1905 law of separation of Church and State, because this heritage belongs to the municipalities.

But "for more recent heritage, dating from after 1905, property of religious associations, the law says that public subsidies are prohibited by default", it was specified.

However, "there is an interest, for everyone, to bring a very targeted evolution of the law of 1905", as was the case in 2022 to make these buildings accessible to people with disabilities, we did to be worth.

For energy renovations, are mainly concerned "the annex buildings", namely "the parish halls, housing of the ministers of worship", according to the entourage of Ms. Borne. It remains to define the type of public support system for these renovations, it was added.

Private Catholic education buildings will also be affected, Vincent Jordy, vice-president of the CEF, told AFP, who welcomed "the opening of this reflection".

Regarding religious heritage, the government has undertaken to "continue the dynamics of classification" of this heritage, "and particularly that of the post-war period", it was indicated to Matignon. The ranking paves the way for public funding.

Another topic of discussion with the CEF, the immigration bill. "We have expressed our attention to ensuring that people, in particular minors, who arrive on national territory can have a path allowing integration, if they are destined to stay on the territory", indicated Vincent Jordy, of the CEF .

The subject of the end of life and the visit of Pope Francis to Marseilles in the fall were also mentioned.

Established in 2002, this annual meeting, known as the "Matignon instance", makes it possible to discuss subjects of common interest between the government and the Catholic Church.