Council adopts Common Position on energy labelling Directive

The Council has adopted its Common Position on the proposal for a Directive on energy labelling. This Directive would apply to energy-related products which have a significant direct or indirect impact on the consumption of energy and, where relevant, on other essential resources during use.

The main points of the Common Position are:

• An extra category (A+++) should be added to the A-G scale set out in the proposal.
• Member States will not be required to buy the most energy efficient products through public procurement - they will only be encouraged to do so.
• Adverts will have to bear the energy-class label as soon as the energy consumption and the price are mentioned.
• The Directive will be revised in 2014.
• It: also reiterates the necessary adaptations required as a result of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, as agreed on 24-25 March 2010. This agreement lays down the procedures for the adoption on implementing measures under the Directive.

In relation to the priority list of energy-related products and, more specifically, construction products, windows and doors are expected to be included. However, for “intermediary products”, these will not, in principle, be on the list. CEMBUREAU will continue to monitor the situation.

The Council’s Common Position can be found here:
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/10/st05/st05247.en10.pdf

The Council’s draft statement can be found here:
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/10/st05/st05247-ad01.en10.pdf