IP/08/352

Brussels, 28 February 2008

Ecodesign Directive: Commission sends Reasoned Opinions to four Member States

Today, the Commission sent Reasoned Opinions to Finland, Greece, Portugal and Luxembourg, who have not communicated their transposition of the Ecodesign Directive^[1]. The Directive aims at lowering the environmental impact of energy-using products and is one of the pillars of the EU strategy on energy efficiency.

Despite letters of formal notice sent to the Member States in question in September 2007, they have not yet informed the Commission of full transposition of the Directive. The Commission has therefore been obliged to initiate the second stage of the infringement procedure.

The Directive establishes a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-using products; Member States were required to transpose it into their national law by August 2007. It is estimated that a comprehensive set of such requirements would allow European consumers to save several billion euros each year in reduced energy bills, and could significantly contribute to the EU's goals on climate change and sustainable energy use.

The Commission is in the process of establishing ecodesign requirements for products with the highest potential for energy reduction, such as boilers, and digital and lighting equipment. The requirements for the first product groups will start entering into force next year, making it essential for the necessary legal provisions to be transposed into national law on time.

^[1] Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2005 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-using products and amending Council Directive 92/42/EEC and Directives 96/57/EC and 2000/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Official Journal L 191, 22/07/2005, P. 0029 - 0058