WRITTEN QUESTION P-0325/96 by Peter Mombaur (PPE) to the Commission (9 February 1996)

Subject: EU standards for domestic plug and socket systems

In the electric plug sector there is a standardized plug which is widely used throughout continental Europe except in Denmark and the United Kingdom. It is the only worldwide standardized 230 V/16 A type. The plug is also used in large parts of Eastern Europe and Asia. The United Kingdom differs in respect not only of the plug but the whole system (13 A with the fuse in the plug). Because the existing system is used on such a wide scale, CENELEC (representing national standardization institutes in the EU and three EFTA states) voted by a large majority in April 1995 against adopting a standard for a new additional domestic plug system for which there is no demand, although it appears that the Commission has been pushing for the new system. It would have meant billions of new adapters being needed throughout most of Europe for decades to come.

1. Is it true that the Commission advocates a different plug system, standard throughout the EU, and, if so, why?

2. What would be the total likely conversion/adapter costs for domestic users? What effect would adapters, which would generally be needed, have on safety?

3. Does the Commission not regard it as odd to end up with adapter systems in by far the largest part of the European Union, with a plug system standard throughout the Union after perhaps 30 years?

4. When it fails once again to achieve standardization of the system will the Commission refrain from further attempts to influence the adoption of standards? If not, what action does the Commission have in mind?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (27 March 1996)

1. First of all the Commission would like to emphasise that it fully supports the aim of harmonisation in an area which it considers a cornerstone of the single market in which goods and persons move around freely. However, the Commission does not intend to achieve harmonisation in this particular case by means of regulatory instruments. According to the subsidiarity principle, work on future harmonisation of plugs and sockets within the Community has been initiated and undertaken by Cenelec, the European committee for electrotechnical standardisation, which is a private and independent body. The Commission is not entitled to give instructions to Cenelec, on organisational aspects, or on the priority of work. It is certainly not advocating a specific configuration.

2. The Commission trusts that Cenelec's technical competence and fixing of adequate transition periods will ensure solutions that are safe as well as meeting economic considerations. Prices should diminish as a result of larger scales of production, further innovation and more effective competition.

3. It is indeed correct that adapters will be necessary during a transition period. The Commission will accept the timetable proposed by the standardisation institutes, assuming that this reflects technical and economic needs. In response to the suggestion that it would be absurd to use adapters for about thirty years before achieving this harmonisation, the Commission observes firstly that their use will disappear gradually, where for reconditioned installations the new system is introduced, and secondly, solutions, even over the longer-term, are better than living indefinitively with a very unsatisfactory lack of harmonisation.

4. As already explained, the Commission does not intervene in Cenelec's activities. Yet, as the guardian of the single European market, it supports and will continue to support all attempts for harmonisation in the field. It has not taken any decision on alternative measures in the case of a failure by Cenelec.