With the next trilogue on the F-gas proposal due to take place tomorrow, the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE) reiterates its call for anagreement in First Reading and its support for the Commission’s proposal of a phase down.

“The revision of the existing F-gas regulation, including a phase down combined with action on refrigerants with very high global warming potential (GWP), is a top priority because it will help achieve the goals of the low carbon roadmap without harming the competitiveness of European industry,” said EPEE Director General Andrea Voigt.

“EPEE therefore also strongly supports a swift conclusion of the revision under First Reading, and before the European Parliament elections of 2014, in order to ensure legal certainty for our members’ business.”

According to EPEE, a ban on HFCs as proposed by the European Parliament would be excessive and would lead to additional costs of up to €72 billion in 2030. Southern European users would be particularly hard hit, as over 80% of these costs would concern air-conditioning.

“EPEE therefore calls upon EU decision-makers to reach an ambitious yet realistic agreement, and to reject sweeping additional bans on HFCs.”

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