Commission responds to eceee letter calling for action on ecodesign and labelling
(eceee news, 18 Nov 2016) The College of Commissioners met to discuss ecodesign and labelling on 25 October. eceee and other organisations had written to President Juncker and key Commissioners in a call for action. The Commission has now replied, promising it “will do its utmost to ensure that the implementation of this policy will proceed expeditiously.”
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.
On 25 October, eceee joined this group in a letter saying ” 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. “ (See eceee news Ecodesign: eceee joins Germany, Sweden and many organisations in call for Commission to restart process . )
In a letter dated 17 November 2016, Paul Hodson, head of Unit, responded on behalf of President Juncker, Vice Presidents Timmermans and Sefcovic, and Commissioner Arias Cañete. It refers to the 25 October internal political debate:
The Commission reaffirmed the need to demonstrate real cumulative savings and added value when proposing Ecodesign and Energy Labelling measures. On this basis, a package of measures, including a new Ecodesign Working Plan, will be prepared for possible adoption as part of the Energy Union package to be presented before the end of the year.
The letter continues:
I understand your concern as to the need to maintain flexibility in managing the process of preparing and adopting product specific measures ... and within the context of the Better Regulation framework, the Commission will do its utmost to ensure that the implementation of this policy will proceed expeditiously. We are confident that the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling policy framework will continue to help the EU deliver on its energy and resource efficiency objectives in a cost-effective manner.
Also read:
- Ecodesign: eceee joins Germany, Sweden and many organisations in call for Commission to restart process.
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- New study: Ecodesign helps consumers save up to €330 per year
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- Toasters and Europe: The EU is reviewing the policy that makes its appliances so energy efficient