European Parliament’s environment committee passes proposals by ‘large majority’, en route to becoming European law

The European Parliament’s environment commitee ENVI has adopted the proposed F-Gas Regulation by a large majority, marking another step on the road to it becoming European law. The next step is for the proposals to be agreed by the Parliament in a Plenary session.

First in the industry to welcome the move was the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), which said it ‘is convinced that the members of the European Parliament’s environment committee have taken the right decision.’
It said: “Industry has high hopes for a quick finalisation of the file, as thisis a needed prerequisite for planning security, investment decisions and the direction of internal research and development programmes.”

Thomas Nowak, Secretary General ofEHPA, added: “Industry hopes for the same decisiveness from the Plenary and subsequently from the Council.

Only a quick finalisation will create the legal certainty required by industry to start working on delivering its contribution to the phase down. It will trigger the phasing in of alternative refrigerants for product groups where this is feasible already today and it will kick-off research and development for those product groups,where the alternatives are still unclear.

It also hopes the European Commission will to back the transition to alternatives by earmarking funds in Horizion 2020 to support the use of low GWP refrigerants in heat pump related R&D.”

The decision has also beenwelcomed by EPEE Director General Andrea Voigt said: “We are pleased that MEPs have shown overwhelming support for this legislation which will help industry move towards alternative solutions in a safe and efficient way. Reaching anagreement in First Reading provides our members with the regulatory certainty which will enable them to plan for the years ahead.”

“EPEE has always supported ambitious environmental rules on F-gases, and as we enter the final straight ofthis legislative process we now call on the full European Parliament and the Member States to show similar resolve to their counterparts in the European Parliament’s Environment Committee and adopt the agreement which we believe is in the best interests of business innovation and the environment.”

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