WRITTEN QUESTION E-2586/00 by Ursula Schleicher (PPE-DE) to the Council. Adoption of the European Parliament and Council Directive on energy efficiency requirements for ballasts in fluorescent lamps ‐ implications for SMUs in the European Union.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: directive (EU), economic consequence, lighting equipment, small and medium-sized enterprises

C 103 E/190

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

(2001/C 103 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2582/00

by Ursula Schleicher (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 July 2000)

Subject: European Parliament and Council Directive on energy requirements for ballasts for fluorescent

lighting (cid:129) generation of waste

Following Parliament(cid:146)s approval of the Council(cid:146)s common position without amendment on 5 July 2000,
the directive on energy requirements for ballasts for fluorescent lighting will shortly enter into force.

Has the Commission investigated how much waste is expected to be generated in future if magnetic
ballasts may no longer be used?

Does the Commission have any information concerning how electronic ballasts are to be disposed of and
how environmentally acceptable they are compared with magnetic ballasts?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(20 September 2000)

The Commission does not expect a perceptible increase of the generation of waste due to the requirements
set out in the draft directive on energy efficiency requirements for ballasts for fluorescent lighting (1).

The main environmental problem related to the disposal of magnetic ballasts are the capacitors containing
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). Contrary to the magnetic ballasts, electronic ballasts do not contain such
capacitors. This absence of PCB-containing capacitors in electronic ballasts constitutes a clear environ-
mental advantage compared to the magnetic ballasts. However, detailed assessments of all environmental
impacts from the waste management of electronic ballasts have not been undertaken so far. This is in
particular true for the most common recovery route of these components (cid:129) the smelting together with
other metal scrap.

(1) OJ C 274 E, 28.9.1999.

(2001/C 103 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2586/00

by Ursula Schleicher (PPE-DE) to the Council

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Adoption of the European Parliament and Council Directive on energy efficiency requirements for

ballasts in fluorescent lamps (cid:129) implications for SMUs in the European Union

Following Parliament(cid:146)s adoption without amendments on 5 July 2000 of the Council(cid:146)s common position,
the directive on energy efficiency requirements for ballasts in fluorescent lamps will shortly enter into
force.

When drawing up its common position, did the Council consider the implications of this directive for
SMUs in the European Union?

Is the Council aware that all firms which at present manufacture magnetic ballasts will be required to halt
their production in the foreseeable future (at the latest in five years(cid:146) time), with the loss of many jobs in
the Member States concerned?

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/191

The allegedly lower costs of the new electronic ballasts was put forward as the justification for the directive
and the resulting restructuring of the market.

What is the price of:

(cid:129) a magnetic ballast?

(cid:129) an electronic ballast?

Reply

(9 November 2000)

The impact of this Directive on small and medium-sized undertakings in the European Union has been
studied carefully.

This examination has revealed that:

(cid:129) high-yield ballasts are profitable in the long term as using them can save a great deal of energy; since
SMUs also light their premises with flourescent lighting they stand to make a net economic gain;

(cid:129) the proposed yield improvements are relatively easy to implement and long transition periods have
been provided for, which means that no manufacturer will be unduly disadvantaged by the
requirements set; it should be noted that this long adjustment period has been set specifically to
cater for the situation of small and medium-sized undertakings;

(cid:129) the Community(cid:146)s industry will be bolstered by implementing this Directive. The yield requirements
stipulated will create jobs, both for raw material production and for ballast production. Furthermore,
demand will increase for new machinery as well as for the conversion of existing machines. It should
also be noted that low-yield ballasts are in the main imported from third countries, so that the
Directive will increase the market share of Community manufacturers for a higher quality product.

As for the prices of the various types of ballast to which the Honourable Member refers, the Council does
not have the necessary information at its disposal to enable it to answer this question.

(2001/C 103 E/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2590/00

by Isidoro SÆnchez Garc(cid:237)a (ELDR) to the Council

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Council(cid:146)s expectations regarding the measures to be implemented in the outermost regions

pursuant to Article 299(2) of the EC Treaty

In line with the statements made by the President-in-Office, Mr Chirac, at Parliament(cid:146)s part-session in July,
in which he referred explicitly to the outermost regions when outlining the French Presidency(cid:146)s main lines
of action during the second half of 2000, what are the Council(cid:146)s expectations as regards the adoption of
measures to be applied to the outermost regions of the European Union pursuant to Article 299(2) of the
EC Treaty?

Reply

(9 November 2000)

On 14 March 2000 the Commission submitted a report on the measures it proposed for the implementa-
tion of Article 299(2) of the Treaty concerning the outermost regions of the European Union.