WRITTEN QUESTION E-3718/03 by Paul Rübig (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Eco-design requirements for energy-using products.
Date: 2003-12-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: drafting of EU law, energy consumption, environmental protection, environmental standard, product design, self-regulation

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/633

The communication on ‘increased solidarity to confront AIDS in developing countries’ (1) adopted by the
Commission on 3 July 1998 provided a framework for the European response to appeals for greater
international solidarity with developing countries in their fight against the human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV/AIDS) and, in particular, to appeals for wider access to HIV/AIDS treatment and the development of
HIV vaccines and microbicides for the developing countries. The Commission’s communication explores
the possibility of supporting the accelerated development of vaccines and microbicides.

The Community has initiated and supervised a study into the market potential for vaginal microbicides
which could protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), notably HIV.

Research was carried out on 4 000 individuals in Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, France, India, Kenya, the
Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Thailand and Venezuela.

In 2000, a call for proposals was launched under budget heading (B7-6211) to support innovative
programmes in the fields identified in the communication on increased solidarity. The project ‘Microbicide
Awareness, Investment and Demand’ was selected. It advocates support for microbicides in Europe, Africa
and Asia and putting in place networks to develop them more rapidly and make them available to the
most vulnerable, notably women in developing countries. This project, worth EUR 1 450 071 and signed
in December 2001 for a duration of three years, is being implemented by International Family Health.

One of the objectives of Regulation (EC) No 1568/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of
15 July 2003 on aid to fight poverty diseases in developing countries (2), covering the period 2003-2006,
is to intensify research and development, notably on vaccines, microbicides and innovative treatments.

the budget

item concerned (21 02 07 02) provides

for a grant of
The 2004 action plan for
EUR 0,87 million for the International Partnership for Microbicides. That organisation’s goal is to speed
up the discovery, development and access to microbicides to prevent HIV infection, notably in places
where incomes are low. The grant will
for rapid access to
finance a project
microbicides in those countries where they are needed and implement this preparatory framework in the
form of case studies in four countries. The Commission is part of a consultative group on the preparedness
of those countries within this International Partnership For Microbicides.

to develop a model

The sixth European framework programme for research (2002-2006) has a special field for poverty
diseases which includes research into microbicides. The Commission selected in 2003 two basic research
projects on microbicides, one on blocking entry of the HIV virus into the cell and the other on replication
of the virus in the mucus. These two projects bring together the best European specialists in this field
along with teams of specialists from Africa, comprising 40 partners in all, of which three in Africa. Their
budget amounts to more than EUR 15 million and they are in the process of negotiating with the
coordinators with a view to starting in the first quarter of this year.

(1) COM(98) 407.
(2) OJ L 224, 6.9.2003.

(2004/C 78 E/0670)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3718/03

by Paul Rübig (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 December 2003)

Subject: Eco-design requirements for energy-using products

The European Commission has proposed a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on
establishing a framework for the setting of eco-design requirements for energy-using products and
amending Council Directive 92/42/EEC (1).

C 78 E/634

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

This directive has to be seen in the context of the Commission Communication on Integrated Product
Policy (IPP) (2). The Communication on IPP serves as an instrument
for achieving a balanced and
coordinated environmental policy for all
industry sectors in Europe. On the symbiosis to be reached
between regulation and voluntary measures, the Communication states that ‘to green products effectively,
non-legislative solutions, such as environmental agreements and the standardisation process, need to be
considered in addition to legislation’ (Point 5.1(b)).

The framework proposal on EuP is an example of an IPP initiative. The relationship between voluntary
measures and possible further regulation, i.e. implementing measures on eco-design and energy efficiency
requirements which could be adopted on the basis of the EuP framework, should be defined in this
framework.

Does the Commission agree that priority should generally be given to flexible and user-friendly

1.
instruments such as voluntary industry measures, self-commitments, standards and agreements?

2.
Does the Commission intend to assess existing voluntary industry measures, self-commitments,
standards and agreements, before proposing implementing measures in order to avoid duplication of
requirements and to ensure that the evolution of voluntary measures is not negatively affected by
implementing measures?

How does the Commission plan to evaluate the effectiveness of existing voluntary industry measures,

3.
self-commitments, standards and agreements?

Is the Commission in a position to provide the European Parliament with a document listing the

4.
number and types of voluntary measures/programmes already in place in the various sectors?

(1) COM/2003/0453 final (cid:1) COD 2003/0172.
(2) COM/2003/0302 final.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(2 February 2004)

The Commission believes that voluntary agreements can present some advantages compared with
regulation and that they allow for flexible adaptation to technological options and market sensitivities. In
the context of the Framework Directive proposal, priority should be given to alternative courses of actions
such as self-regulation by the industry where such actions are likely to deliver the policy objectives faster
or cheaper than mandatory requirements. However, legislative measures may be needed where the market
forces fail to evolve in the right direction or at an acceptable speed.

(for example in establishing testing and measurement methods,

Standards can support the implementation of the Energy Using Products (EuP) Framework Directive
proposal
in better describing certain
environmental parameters or in information supply, databases, checklists etc.). Harmonised standards
produced by European Standardisation Organisations on the basis of a mandate from the Commission in
accordance with Directive 98/34/EC (1), the reference numbers of which have been published in the
Official Journal of the European Community, are indeed proposed as a possible means for presumption of
conformity. However, in no case will the standardisers be invited to settle issues that, in view of their
sensitive nature, should be left to the regulators, such as fixing a limit for a given environmental aspect.

The Commission before proposing implementing measures for a given product (or environmental aspect)
will examine to which extent the criteria of Article 12 of the proposal are fulfilled; one of these criteria is
‘significant potential for improvement’. In order to explore this potential, an adequate description of
existing measures and/or voluntary initiatives is necessary; the assessment of voluntary industry measures,
the existence, dissemination, efficiency of standards and other agreements will take place in that context.

27.3.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/635

The Commission when assessing self-regulatory measures initiated by industry intends to take into
account, inter alia, ambition (clear and unambiguous commitments: e.g. quantified targets and well-defined
baselines), representativity (proportion of the market covered), monitoring and reporting mechanisms
(regular, detailed and transparent
identified responsibilities and independent verification,
publicity (the content of the Voluntary Agreement and the regular reports publicised), cost-effective
administration (proportionate administrative burden compared with the objectives and with alternative
policy instruments) as well as compliance with International engagements of the Union: e.g. World Trade
Organisation/Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO/TBT) rules).

reporting)

Concerning harmonised standards, they are adopted by the European Standardisation Bodies and the EuP
proposal foresees (in Article 8) that they may be used for presumption of conformity. The mechanism, by
which the Commission and/or the Member States can object to such use, is described in Article 9 of the
same proposal
the Committee of Directive 98/34/EC for technical regulations and
standards).

(involvement of

Here is a list of voluntary actions relevant in the context of the EuP proposal (and relating mainly to
energy efficiency), and notified to the Commission:

(cid:1) Unilateral self-commitments: (coverage by the signatories beyond 70 % of the Union market):

(cid:1) Standby and ON-mode of cathode ray tube (CRT) Televisions, standby for DVD players, Liquid
Crystal Displays (LCD) and plasma televisions (EICTA, 2003); new targets are under consideration
by the industry for DVDs, LCD and plasma televisions which will include on-mode consumption;

(cid:1) Washing machines (CECED, 2003);

(cid:1) Refrigerators, freezers and their combinations (CECED, 2003);

(cid:1) Standby consumption of Audio equipment (EICTA, 2000);

(cid:1) Dishwashers (CECED, 2000-2001);

(cid:1) Detergents (including Energy saving consumer behaviour washing machines, AISE 1998);

(cid:1) Codes of Conduct (for individual companies, includes quantitative targets):

(cid:1) Digital Television Services (2000);

(cid:1) External Power Supplies (2000).

(1) Directive 98/34/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the

provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations, OJ L 204, 21.7.1998.

(2004/C 78 E/0671)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3720/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(10 December 2003)

Subject: Adapting Directive 97/24/EC to technical progress

On the basis of the above directive catalytic exhaust systems are now no long the firms manufacturing
them from obtaining type-approval for exhausts and means that the vehicle manufacturer acquires the
monopoly for type-approval. This situation in the motor-car industry was settled in two years by adapting
the basic directive to technical progress.
In 2000 the Italian Government requested that a similar
procedure be launched for two and three-wheeled vehicles, proposing the same formula as for the
adaptation of Directive 97/24/EC (1).