The European Commission has initiated a number of discussions and studies for the effectiveness and planning of the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Directives ("horizontal matters"). Next Consultation Forum on horizontal matters will be held 1 March 2013.

Consultation Forum 1 March 2013

Topics that will be discussed in Consultation Forum 1 March are:

• reviews of existing ecodesign and energy labelling regulations
• guidelines for ecodesign self-regulation measures
• the implementation of the new second Ecodesign Work Plan 2012-2014,
• market surveillance,
• standardisation.

Consultation Forum 19 April 2012

Consultation Forum for horizontal matters was held the 19 April 2012.The agenda included the following items:

• the main results of the study of the review of the Ecodesign Directive.
• preparation for the revision of the Ecodesign and Labelling Directives for 2012-2014.
• the review of the study on product labelling options and consumer understanding.
• challenges in the implementation of the directives.
• challenges in the national application of the directives.
• standardisation,
• tolerances in ecodesign implementing measures.

Ecodesign Work Plan

The Ecodesign working plan sets out an indicative list of prioritised product groups. The revised working plan for 2012-2014 was released in December 2012 and replaces the working plan covering 2009-2011.

Background studies

Two studies examined different aspects of the Ecodesign Directive:

• An independent study evaluated the overall functioning of the Ecodesign policy. The aim was to make recommendations for the 2012 review of the ecodesign directive.
• The "study of the Update of the Methodology for the Ecodesign of Energy-using Products", examined the Eup Methodology in order to  develop a methodology for the ecodesign of energy-related products (MEErP).