Genesis of the F-Gas Regulation

Transcription

1 Genesis of the F-Gas Regulation ECSLA Fall Conference October 16-17,2012 Madrid Genesis of the F-Gas Regulation First working group on F-gases set up by the Commission NL recommends to adapt its STEK system at EU level Spring 2001 Discussions within the Working Group come to an end 12 August 2003 European Commission adopts proposal for regulation to reduce F-Gas emissions by 2010 ECSLA hires a fulltime Secretary General, Carole Prier in May 2003

2 Genesis of the F-gas Regulation September 2004 Peter Horrocks from the Commission, Annie Larribet from the French Ministry of Industry and Ms Goodburne from the Council visit a Stef cold store in the Paris area The following week, the new draft of the regulation proposes a leak inspection which is almost identical to the Stef procedure This was not the final version, but it changed everything Genesis of the F-gas Regulation 2000-

3 Genesis of the F-gas Regulation Genesis of the F-gas Regulation As a result of consistent lobbying, ECSLA obtains that personnel can be certified and not just companies (which was the wish of AREA) that frequency of leak checks are adapted to charges that charges > 300 kg can be divided by 2 if a leak detector is in place that leak detectors are placed where leaks are most likely to occur (we wanted them to specify the machine room but they never went into such detail)

4 Genesis of the F-gas Regulation March st reading in the Environment Committee of the European Parliament. 31 March st reading at the European Parliament in Strasbourg October 2004 The Environment Council of Ministers splits the Commission proposal in two: a regulation on 'stationary' industrial installations (F-Gas Regulation) and a directive to phase out HFC-134a from car air conditioning systems (MAC Directive) Genesis of the F-gas Regulation June 2005 Council adopts common position 11 October nd reading in the Environment Committee of the Parliament 26 October nd reading at the European Parliament in Strasbourg 23 December 2005 Commission rejects some amendments voted by the European Parliament

5 Genesis of the F-gas Regulation January Parliament, Council and Commission reach compromise agreement in the trialogue 6 April 3rd reading at the European Parliament in Strasbourg 25 April Council adopts rules on F-gases and air conditioning in motor vehicles Review of the F-gas Regulation December 2009 Öko-Recherche and partners get service contract to assist the Commission in reviewing the F-Gas Regulation by providing technical data, analyses and general support 2010 The Commission sets up an Expert Group on Fluorinated Gases to get advice and expertise during preparations for reviewing the F-Gas Regulation ECSLA is invited to join this group May 2011 End of Expert Group on Fluorinated Gases discussions on the draft report by Öko-Recherche

6 Review of the F-gas Regulation February 2012 Stakeholders meeting on the review of the F-Gas Regulation in Brussels March 2012 Commission publishes report commissioned to SKM Enviros contractor on Further Assessment of Policy Options for the Management and Destruction of Banks of ODS and F-Gases in the EU 30 May 2012 Environmental Investigation Agency launches report commissioned to Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, Availability of Low-GWP Alternatives to HFCs: Feasibility of an Early Phase-Out of HFCs by 2020 Review of the F-gas Regulation End September 2012 Commission proposal is leaked End 2012 Commission to publish its proposal for a review of the F-Gas Regulation

7 The way ahead After publication Official proposal will be transferred to the European Parliament European Parliament Will transfer the proposal to the responsible Committee most probably ENVI One of its members will be appointed Rapporteur Other Committees are free to submit an opinion After vote in the Committee and Plenary, amended proposal will be transferred to the Council Council Amended proposal will be negotiated between representatives from Member States Overview European Institutions European Council (summit) European Parliament Council of Ministers (The Council) European Commission Court of Justice Court of Auditors Economic and Social Committee Committee of the Regions European Investment Bank Agencies European Central Bank

8 Experts Professional association Member States + European Associations Questionnaire Answers European Commission 27 Commissioners 5 years DG Sanco, DG Envi, DG Energy, DG Transport Member States Proposals Parliamentary Committee (environment, transport, etc.) PARLIAMENT 751 MEPs 8 political groups LOBBYING Rapporteur 1st Reeading and 2nd Adoption COUNCIL Cyprus 1/7/12-31/12/12 Ireland 1/1/13-30/06/13 Interactive Overview of the EU Institutions

9 The European Commission Competences: Initiates new legislation Guardian of the Treaties: ensures that legislation adopted is applied correctly Administration and execution of community law 27 commissioners nominated by each Member State Must be approved by the European Parliament independent from national governments Term of office 5 years 33 Departments Directorates General (DG Sanco, DG Transport, DG Enterprise, DG Environment, DG Energy, DG Agriculture ) The European Parliament 753 Members elected every 5 years Representing 500 million EU citizens 20 Committees and 2 Sub-Committees Competences: Legislative powers Supervision of the Commission Budgetary powers

10 The European political parties Number of seats in the European Parliament per political group (January 2012) Greens/European Free Alliance 58 Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe 84 European People s Party (Christian Democrats) 271 Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats 190 European United Left - Nordic Green Left 34 Total : 753 European Conservatives and Reformists 53 Europe of Freedom and Democracy 33 Non-attached members 30 The Council of the European Union Based in Brussels Principal decision maker in EU Consists of representatives of the national governments One minister from each EU country The Council has a rotating Presidency which is in office for 6 months; currently Cyprus Decides EU laws and budget together with Parliament The work of the Council is prepared and co-ordinated by the Permanent Representatives Committee (COREPER) The decisions are taken by qualified majority

11 Council of Ministers number of votes per country Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom Spain and Poland Romania Netherlands Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and Portugal Austria, Bulgaria and Sweden Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Finland Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg and Slovenia Malta Total: Qualified majority needed for many decisions: 255 votes and a majority of member states From 2014: 55% of the Member States with 65% of the population Brussels is not one single entity Commission employs about permanent civil servants and temporary or contract workers Other relevant actors include organisations representing various interests lobbyists Almost 1 lobbyist per EC official!

12 Thank you very much for your attention! ECSLA Office Brussels