European Union

A new, tougher, A to G scale showing the energy efficiency of household appliances should be introduced to keep pace with technological progress, agreed the Parliament’s and Council’s negotiators on Tuesday.
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

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AMENDMENTS 9 - 66 - Draft opinion Macro-financial assistance to the Republic of Moldova
Committee on Foreign Affairs

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General : People from across Europe gathered in the European Parliament on Tuesday to share their views on the future of the European Union with MEPs. This event, called the Citizens’ Parliament, contributes to ongoing reflection on the EU as an asset for future, ahead of the EU heads of state or government meeting in Rome on 25 March.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : People from across Europe gathered in the European Parliament on Tuesday to share their views on the future of the European Union with MEPs. This event, called the Citizens’ Parliament, contributes to ongoing reflection on the EU as an asset for future, ahead of the EU heads of state or government meeting in Rome on 25 March.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

The Council reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament on a regulation setting a framework for energy efficiency labelling. This agreement will have to be confirmed by the member states Permanent Representatives (Coreper).

The proposed regulation will replace the current legislation (Directive 2010/30/EU) retaining its main principles but further clarifying, strengthening and extending its scope.

The Energy labelling framework allows customers to be more aware of the energy efficiency and energy consumption of household appliances (such as dishwashers, televisions, fridges, etc.), which will help them to reduce their energy costs. This will also contribute to the moderation of energy demand and the achievement of the Union's 2020 and 2030 energy efficiency targets .

The regulation establishes deadlines to replace the current A+, A++, A+++ classes with an A to G scale. It also sets out a procedure for rescaling the labels based on technological development. Thus, the excessive use of higher efficiency classes is avoided in the long term, providing also incentives for innovation and pushing less efficient products out of the market.

The proposal also contains clearer rules on promotional campaigns, national incentives to promote higher classes of efficiency and aims to improve enforcement mechanisms and transparency towards customers by creating a database of products covered by energy labelling requirements.

Main elements of the agreement

Following three trilogues in July, September and October 2016 and a series of technical meetings, provisional agreement was reached on scope, definitions, market surveillance and harmonised standards.  At the fourth trilogue on 21 March 2017, political agreement was also reached on:

Rescaling 

Fixed deadlines are established for the first rescaling of all labelled products, according to three product categories:

6 years as general deadline, combined with 18 additional months aiming for the appearance of the label in shops;
15 months for the "white" products (dishwashers, fridges, washing machines), combined with 12 additional months aiming for the appearance of the label in shops and 9 years for heaters and boilers with a sunset clause of 12 years.

Once all A+ labels have disappeared from the market, further rescaling will be triggered by a surplus in the top classes, namely 30 % in class A or 50% in class A+B. At the time of rescaling the top two classes are to be left empty, aiming for a 10 year validity period of the label.

Product database

It will operate from January 2019 and it will enable market surveillance authorities of member states to enforce labelling requirements, and make sure that efficiency calculations behind the label correspond to those declared by manufacturers. The public database will focus on user friendliness and practical purposes. The compliance part of the database is delineated in order to safeguard the confidentiality and security of sensitive commercial data of manufacturers

Delegated acts

They will be the main instrument for the rescaling procedure but implementing acts have been decided for the database and the safeguard procedure.

Minister Konrad Mizzi said: "We very much welcome this agreement. These new rules on energy labelling will help consumers to make energy savings more easily when they buy electric household appliances. This will contribute to reduced energy demand, one of the goals of the Energy Union strategy."
Next steps

Following approval by the Coreper, the Chairman of Coreper will then send a letter to the Chairperson of the European Parliament's ITRE Committee.

That letter will indicate that, if the Parliament adopts at its plenary session the compromise text as approved by the Coreper, the Council will adopt the text in first reading without amendments. 

Background

The proposal on energy efficiency labelling is part of the Commission's wider Energy Union Strategy.

The conclusions of the European Council of October 2014 set an indicative target of at least 27% increase in energy efficiency at Union level in 2030. This target will be reviewed by 2020 with a view to reaching an Union level of 30%.

 The Commission presented its proposal on 15 July 2015. The TTE (Energy) Council adopted a general approach on the proposal on 26 November 2015.

The European Parliament voted its negotiating mandate on 6 July 2016.

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EU-Japan Leaders meeting takes place on 21 March 2017, in Brussels. It is an opportunity to push ahead and deepen the bilateral relations, as well as to coordinate before the G7 summit in May in Sicily

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Committee meetings, Brussels

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : High-tech equipment such as smartphones, tablets and cars are able to run thanks to minerals and metals such as tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold. However, as their mining and illegal trade are often controlled by armed groups, they also help to feed a vicious circle of conflicts.On 16 March MEPs voted in favour of making EU companies take responsibility for the origin of the minerals they import. Watch our video for more details.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : High-tech equipment such as smartphones, tablets and cars are able to run thanks to minerals and metals such as tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold. However, as their mining and illegal trade are often controlled by armed groups, they also help to feed a vicious circle of conflicts.On 16 March MEPs voted in favour of making EU companies take responsibility for the origin of the minerals they import. Watch our video for more details.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Length of video : 169'
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Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

All EU lobbyists looking to influence legislation, should be required to sign the transparency register before being allowed to enter the European Parliament, says a resolution approved by the Constitutional Affairs Committee on Tuesday.
Committee on Constitutional Affairs

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All EU lobbyists looking to influence legislation, should be required to sign the transparency register before being allowed to enter the European Parliament, says a resolution approved by the Constitutional Affairs Committee on Tuesday.
Committee on Constitutional Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

New powers for national authorities to check whether e-commerce websites geo-block consumers, track down rogue traders or even, subject to safeguards inserted by MEPs, order that websites hosting scams be shut down, were approved by the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee on Tuesday.
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

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New powers for national authorities to check whether e-commerce websites geo-block consumers, track down rogue traders or even, subject to safeguards inserted by MEPs, order that websites hosting scams be shut down, were approved by the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee on Tuesday.
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Dear Prime Minister, dear Shinzō, I am very pleased to welcome you today in Brussels. Your visit gives us an opportunity to push ahead and deepen our bilateral relations, as well as to coordinate before the G7 summit in May in Sicily.

Both our friendship and strategic partnership have produced sustained and deep mutual benefits for many decades, and will continue to do so. We remain united by our common values of liberal democracy and the rule of law as the core principles of the rules-based international order. As two of the four main economies in the world, Japan and the European Union are tied deeply together by our mutual commitment to maintain an open, free and fair global trading system.

These values are the foundations of our political systems. They unite us and also make us stronger internationally, especially during the difficult times we live in.

It is from this perspective that today we will review progress in our bilateral relations and provide a clear political direction to our negotiators on the EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement and the Strategic Partnership Agreement. Let me assure you that the European Union is fully committed to concluding the negotiations for both agreements very soon and together, Prime Minister, I'm sure that we will achieve these two highly ambitious deals. They will strengthen our political and economic strategic partnership.

Regarding our priorities for the upcoming G7 Summit, I believe there is a very large degree of convergence between the EU and Japan. We share a common interest in preserving G7 unity in strengthening the rules-based international order to address common challenges - from the economy and trade to climate change, migration, security and terrorism; from the East and South China Seas, North Korea, to the conflicts in Syria and the wider Middle East, to Ukraine.

March is a special month of renewal as we celebrate the spring equinox and prepare to mark the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome this very Saturday. And as we continue to make plans for a prosperous and peaceful future, we also pause to commemorate the tragic events of Fukushima in March 2011 and the Brussels terrorist attacks of March last year. Let me convey the European Union's solidarity and appreciation for the resilience of the people of Japan and the European Union. As in the words of a Japanese proverb: “Nana korobi ya oki”. Or in English: 'Fall down seven times, get up eight'.

Lastly, in view of what was announced in London yesterday, I would like to inform you that I will call a European Council on Saturday 29th April to adopt the Guidelines for the Brexit talks. As you all know, I personally wish the UK hadn't chosen to leave the EU, but the majority of British voters decided otherwise. Therefore, we must do everything we can to make the process of divorce the least painful for the EU. Our main priority for the negotiations must be to create as much certainty and clarity as possible for all citizens, companies and Member States that will be negatively affected by Brexit, as well as our important partners and friends around the world, like Japan.

Dear Prime Minister, dear Shinzō, once again a warm welcome to Brussels. Thank you very much.

Civil Liberties Committee MEPs questioned Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans about the respect of the rule of law in Poland on Wednesday. The Commission began investigating the situation in Poland under the "Framework for addressing systemic threats to the Rule of Law" on 13 January 2016. MEPs discussed the progress of the investigation procedure and possible further developments, including the advisability of otherwise triggering the Article 7 of the Treaty against Poland.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

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The EU Commission should propose rules obliging all players in the textile and clothing industry supply chain to respect the labour and human rights of their workers, say Development Committee MEPs in a resolution voted on Tuesday. They also advocate introducing EU tariff preferences and labels for sustainably-produced textiles.
Committee on Development

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Length of video : 38'
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Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Length of video : 25'
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Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Length of video : 68'
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Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP