Pressure mounts to move forward with Ecodesign measures
2016 has been a year of stagnation for Ecodesign. Activities slowed down increasingly before reaching a full halt after the outcome of Brexit. With the Ecodesign Working Plan 2015-2017 still not published, frustrations are growing, and significant energy savings will be lost, amounting to a whopping €10bn according to ECOS’ estimation, as reported by The Economist. Measures ready for adoption are lost in the twists and turns of the Commission’s validation process, proposals ready to be discussed are on hold, and preparatory studies are stalled. Today, NGO criticism regarding the lost time is echoed by Member States and industry.
The College of Commissioners organised an orientation debate on Ecodesign on 25 October. Leaked documents suggested President Juncker wanted remove five commercial and domestic products from the Working Plan, thereby caving into Eurosceptic voices. ECOS strongly believes that this is not the correct way forth, and call upon the President of the European Commission to take urgent action on the Ecodesign Directive. In a joint letter penned together with the EEB and consumer organisations ANEC and BEUC, we ask to, among other things, to expand product groups covered by Ecodesign, instead of reducing them. The full letter is available to read here.