European Solar Thermal Industry Federation

Battle over EU energy labelling heats up in the Parliament

Date: 10 Apr 2016
Category: Solar Heat News

The debate over the new framework for energy efficiency labelling has entered a new, heated stage, as the European Parliament is set to find a synthesis between the nearly 700 amendments to the initial report led by MEP Tamburrano.

Political groups have been debating the issue in a recent ITRE meeting on the 07 April. The EFDD Rapporteur presented an analysis of the amendments received to his report, focusing on the most relevant issues at stake, i.e. the rescaling and the database issues. Tamburrano argued that while the database is fundamental in his views, there is also the need to protect sensible market data for industries. The database should mostly collect already publicly available information. He also stressed the need to improve market surveillance, promoting a better circulation of information among Member States authorities. Finally, he welcomed the large consensus on the need to increase consultation mechanisms and monitoring of implementation.

Positions of the other political groups have been clearly outlined: the EPP wants the focus to be on simplified rules and less red tape, believes rescaling should happen over long cycles of at least 5 years, and questions the need for a database. The S&D group stresses the need to differentiate between an initial rescaling, which should set all labels on the A-G mode, should be more urgent and with clear defined deadline, and the subsequent rescaling, which should only happen when technology advances sufficiently and the upper classes are overcrowded. S&D is open to compromise on the elements triggering rescaling, and looks positively on leaving one or two top classes empty. The ALDE group stresses the need to fix clear deadlines for a rapid transition from the old to the new system, and looks at the database as an essential tool to promote market surveillance, but is open to a decentralized system. The GUE group also finds important the database, and stresses the need to reinforce all elements of the system that would promote consumers protection against frauds.

It is now up to MEP Tamburrano and the shadow Rapporteurs to strike the right balance between the different political groups, and find ground for compromise amendments, before the vote on the report in ITRE, scheduled for the 24 of May.

 

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