Ecodesign: eceee joins Germany, Sweden and many organisations in call for Commission to restart process

(eceee news, 25 Oct 2016) EU’s ecodesign and labelling processes have been stalled for over a year. For some of the product groups, like motors, the delays are now about two years. In separate letters ministries and organisations call for the European Commission to restart the process. eceee now joins this group in a letter sent today, 25 October.

According to minutes from the College of Commissioners, the European Commission does regognise the importance of ecodesign and labelling. The two directives are expected to deliver half of the EU’s 2020 savings target and a quarter of the GHG target.

However, the Commission has recognised the political difficulties related to some of the product groups in the new work plan (yet to be approved) such as hairdryers and toasters. These products have raised political concerns. Further, due to given the importance and potential of the Directives, the leadership of the Commission wants to assume a stronger political ownership, and has introduced a system with a yearly review of which products to focus on and at which ambition level.

According to many sources with knowledge about the process, the yearly reviews do not offer sufficient flexibility. Whereas President Juncker has stated that “ I want to be serious about being big on big things and small on small things” , the new approach appear to have the effect that concerns over small things are allowed to stall or delay big things.

In the last week several letters have been sent to President Juncker and responsible ministers. eceee today sent a letter asking the Commission to restart the process:

We understand that this is part of a process where all Ecodesign and Labelling measures have been placed in a common portfolio only to be reviewed once every year by the College of Commissioners. This yearly review does not appear to give enough flexibility to manage the process and the delays create serious problems for companies who design their business plans based on a scheduled regulatory approach.

Sigmar Gabriel, German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, wrote a letter to to the Commission on 10 October ( See letters and English translation and on 18 October, the Swedish Minister for Policy Coordination and Energy, Ibrahim Baylan, wrote a similar letter .

A number of industry associations sent a letter yesterday asking for action. It is highlighted under the catchy title "Don't Let Product Energy Policy Freeze This Winter" .

Further, at the end of the Motor Summit held in Zürich a l etter was sent to the Commission pointing out that electric-motor related regulations, including pumping. Ventilation and Variable frequency drives) have been stalled since 2014, also calling for action.

Finally, the Coalition for Energy Savings also has sent a letter calling for action .

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