The European Commission has launched a public consultation to review its policy framework on sustainable bioenergy post-2020. The objective of this consultation is to consult stakeholders and citizens on an updated EU policy on sustainable bioenergy for the period 2020-2030, as part of the EU renewable energy package foreseen before the end of 2016. The […]

Environmental NGOs ECOS and CIEL and environmental consultancy Öko-Institut are working together on a project to support civil society organisations in relation to nanomaterial development. The main objective of the project is to ensure the adoption of a precaution-based regulatory framework for the responsible development of nanotechnologies in the EU and beyond, based on adequate […]

With testing methods under increased scrutiny post-Dieselgate, it has become apparent that the definition and implementation of test methodologies is a complex and resource-intensive exercise. Its increasing political relevance and application to serve societal needs introduces new realities to the regulatory and standardisation world, to which the latter has not sufficiently adapted.  In this paper, […]

The European Union’s current proposal for legal provisions on regulatory cooperation under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) implies extending regulatory and technical cooperation between the EU and US authorities by cutting red tape, developing new structures and processes to increase information exchanges, and by identifying common ‘areas of interest’ for further cooperation. Under […]

In today’s Declaration on Waste Containing Nanomaterials, ECOS, CIEL, and the Oeko-Institut emphasise the importance of adopting and implementing preventive measures to protect people and the environment from possible hazards of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) in waste streams. With the toxicity of nanomaterials still largely unknown, a tight control of waste containing MNMs is crucial. Over 80 […]

ECOS joins other leading associations and industry groups with a clear stake in Europe’s energy policy to call for ambitious proposals for electricity market reforms in 2016. We share the conviction that only a flexible and dynamic energy system, making the best use of innovative and distributed supply and demand options, can ensure a cost-efficient and […]

The Digi-Label project (‘Delivering digital Energy Labelling solutions to enable consumer action on purchasing energy efficient appliances’) will design and deliver digital tools to complement the EU energy label. By allowing for a better understanding of the energy consumption of appliances through digital solutions, Digi-Label aims at positively influencing consumer-buying choices, helping deliver greater energy […]

The INTAS project (Industrial and tertiary product Testing and Application of Standards) will address the need to support European Market Surveillances Authorities (MSAs) deliver compliance with Ecodesign requirements for large industrial products, specifically transformers and fans. By acknowledging the current lack of expertise, experience, and resources available across Europe for this type of testing, INTAS […]

After three years, the MarketWatch project comes to an end in April. Working closely with 15 other NGOs across Europe, the MarketWatch project helped raise awareness and build experience and capacity for NGOs in the field of market surveillance, in particular for the Energy Labelling and Ecodesign regulations. With a conservative estimate of at least 10% of the […]

The Joint Initiative on European Standardisation (JIES) was announced in the European Commission’s Single Market Strategy, published in October 2015, with a view to further strengthen the role of standards for competitiveness, innovation, and progress in the Single Market. The JIES is expected to represent a joint commitment of the wider European standardisation community – often […]