The
International Network
for Sustainable Energy
- Framework Directive with Implementation Measures
EU
Energy Policy
UNUpdated: December 2009
Go to:
• INFORSE
Positions
• Products Covered
• Recast of directive 2008-2009
A Process Covering 30+ Energy Using Products in the EU
EU is in a process of covering most energy using products on the markets of the EU countries with Ecodesign regulation, a regulation that sets minimum energy efficiency requirements and other environmental requirements, based on a life-cycle approach. Regulation and other measures will cover at least 32 product groups as well 2 horizontal aspects (standby consumption and electric motors). For each product group or horizontal measures is adopted an implementation measure, typically an internal market regulation. Also voluntary agreements are possible measures. Often the process also involves mandatory energy efficiency labelling with the labelling (SAVE) directive. For many products these measures can reduce consumption 25% or more. In November 2009 was adopted a revision of the Ecodesign directive, enlarging the scope to energy related products. This could for instance be windows that are important for heat consumption of a house, but does not directly consume fuel or other delivered energy.
The process for each
product group is:
• Expert study with stakeholder consultation, typically 1-2 years
• Consultation Forum with stakeholders including INFORSE-Europe and
other NGOs
• Proposal for EU regulation made by the EU Commission, typically
3 months after
.
Consultation Forum
• Adoption of EU Commission in cooperation with EU countries (process
under revision
.
because of new rules with the Lisbon Treaty)
• "Scrutiny" by EU Parliament (and with Lisbon also by EU countries),
where a majority of EU
. parliamentarians (or EU countries) can stop a measure,
2 months
• Official entry into force of regulation(s)
• Typically 1 year after regulation enters into force, companies must
only
put
on
the
EU
.
market
products
that
follow
the regulation
and has the necessary labels. Only such products
.
can carry the "CE" label.
• Typically 2-3 years later stronger energy efficiency requirements are
introduced as a second
.
step (this has not happened yet for any product as the regulation is new)
• Typically 4-5 years after a regulation enters into force it is
reviewed,
and a revision might take
.
place (this has not happened yet since the regulation is new).
The first regulations, covering for instance certain light bulbs, are already in force, and many others are coming soon. Read below.
INFORSE-Europe has a permanent seat in the Consultation Forum together with WWF, Climate Action Network Europe, EEB, ECOS and other NGOs. We cooperate on our inputs to the process as well as more generally in the Coolproducts Campaign and collect our positions etc. on our common website. We develop common position to better argue for high energy efficiency requirements and good consumer information via labels etc.