As ESG expectations move from aspiration to obligation, real estate leaders are being forced to confront how sustainability directly affects asset value, financing and long-term resilience. Chaired by ESG Partner Tjidsger Wierda of Walvius Partners, the sustainability session at CEE Property Forum 2025 brought together a range of expertise and pragmatic perspectives on the evolving role of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) in commercial real estate.
Andrei Ianculescu, Head of Project & Development Services at Cushman & Wakefield Echinox, talked to Property Forum about the expansion of design and ESG advisory services, the industrial and logistics sector's growth post-Schengen, and the importance of independent project management for tenant fit-outs. Ianculescu also emphasised the potential in secondary cities and the increasing relevance of aligning projects with sustainability standards.
Law firm CMS advised Prologis in Poland on its entry into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Engie. This agreement combines the long-term purchase of electric energy from renewable energy sources with flexible market mechanisms, setting a new benchmark for the commercial property market in Poland.
The European Union has reached a provisional agreement to reduce the scope and stringency of two major ESG regulatory frameworks: Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
Garbe has started construction of a new 55,000 sqm hall at Garbe Park Klášterec nad Ohří II, with global consumer goods company Reckitt becoming the anchor tenant. The British multinational has leased 35,000 sqm of industrial space under a ten-year agreement and will move in during the Q2 2026.
M Core has inaugurated M Park Orăștie, a retail park designed to strengthen the group's presence in regional markets and expand its national portfolio of convenience-led retail assets. Located on a 23,000 sqm land plot, the project delivers a built area of approximately 5,500 sqm.
Crestpoint Project Partners has launched a new project management and advisory platform to support developers, investors and construction companies across the real estate sector.
Older buildings usually consume more energy in operation than new construction. That is not only a cost issue. It also affects how an asset performs against market standards like BREEAM, EU Taxonomy, and CRREM, as well as regulations such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the rules for Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS). Many owners assume the only way to close the gap is a major refurbishment. Better insulation and new equipment certainly help, but they are expensive and disruptive. Investments in deep fabric and equipment upgrades can reach one to five percent of the asset value.
Property Forum recently spoke with a prominent player in the Romanian property market, who asked to remain anonymous, about the systemic challenges facing development in the capital, which risks seeing billions of euros in new investments lost due to prolonged administrative blockages.
The European real estate industry has shifted from cautious optimism to pragmatism as geopolitical and economic uncertainty continues to temper investment activity, according to the latest report by PwC and the Urban Land Institute.
Florentin Avădanei, Founder & Co-CEO at Goldbach Group, talked to Property Forum about the company's strategy of focusing on small urban and rural areas, their consolidation in 2024, and the future of physical retail in Romania.
Globalworth has renewed its Access4you certification for all 16 office buildings in its Romanian portfolio, totaling almost 500,000 sqm. The recertification, conducted with consultancy services from Colliers, marks the second three-year certification cycle for the leading office investor in CEE.
Sorin Macoveiu, Commercial Manager at Vastint Romania, talked to Property Forum about the company's ongoing expansion of its Timpuri Noi Square complex in Bucharest and the trends shaping office demand going into 2026.
Nepi Rockcastle has inaugurated its first photovoltaic park in Chișineu-Criș, Arad County, Romania, marking a milestone in the shopping centre developer's sustainability efforts.
Romanian developer Iulius has launched Europe's largest private bioremediation project, investing €29 million to clean 38 hectares of contaminated land in downtown Constanța. The project will transform the former Oil Terminal platform into an integrated urban regeneration complex worth over €800 million.
Garbe has received a building permit for the second phase of its Garbe Park Brno South project. It is adding two modern buildings, bringing the park's total area to 111,000 sqm.
Once seen primarily as a regulatory requirement, accessibility is now increasingly recognised as a driver of value in the real estate market. Balázs Berecz, Founder and CEO of Access4you, who himself has been a wheelchair user since 2005, explains how accessibility is moving beyond compliance to become a competitive advantage, influencing ESG scores, boosting occupancy, and shaping investment decisions.
Poland has moved up 49 places in the Climate Risk Index 2025, underscoring the increasing impact of climate change on the real estate sector. Heatwaves, heavy rainfall, droughts and floods are becoming a regular challenge for property owners and investors, according to Cushman & Wakefield.
Only 14% of office buildings across the Prague market have achieved an Energy Performance Certificate in class A or B, with older properties having a higher probability of being classified in lower energy performance classes. An internal Savills survey, covering dozens of properties, has revealed that a significant proportion of Prague's office stock is facing the need for modernisation.
CPI Europe has announced an adjustment to its business strategy to better align with its existing group structure, recent business developments, and the market environment.
The European Union has reached a provisional agreement to reduce the scope and stringency of two major ESG regulatory frameworks: Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
Waldevar Energy has begun construction on two utility-scale photovoltaic parks for Doral Energy in Tudor Vladimirescu (Brăila County) and Ștefan Vodă (Călărași County), Romania. The projects will deliver 14 MWp of installed capacity using around 25,000 photovoltaic panels.
Lidl Romania has published its eighth sustainability report for the 2024 financial year, announcing accelerated progress in reducing environmental impact. The retailer has achieved its international 2030 target for transitioning to natural refrigerants, with these now used in 100% of logistics centres and 81.7% of stores, compared to the original goal of 100% of logistics centres and 40% of stores. The company has also increased its green energy usage to 80% of total consumption.
Global law firm Dentons has advised OX2 on acquiring three wind power projects totaling 235 MW in Romania from Future Power. The projects, located in Vaslui and Vrancea counties, are expected to be commissioned between 2028 and 2030, subject to permitting.
Romania is emerging as a key destination for Turkish renewable energy investments, attracting growing interest from industrial and financial groups. Real grid connection opportunities for projects, infrastructure modernisation potential, and investment framework stability make Romania strategic for Turkish capital as Europe accelerates its transition to sustainable sources and energy independence.
