On Monday 22 May, the Member States’ ministers for competitiveness will be asked to agree on the EU Council’s position on the proposed EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which should now be possible.
The Member States’ ambassadors to the EU (Coreper), meeting on Friday 12 May in Brussels, essentially support the fourth and final draft compromise submitted by the Swedish Presidency (see EUROPE 13177/3), with slight amendments. Certain Member States still have difficulties with some of the issues discussed on Friday, but the previously feared risk of a blocking minority (at Coreper on 3 May) has now passed.
“Views are still divergent”, a diplomatic source told EUROPE. “Some countries are not happy with the compromise”, said another source close to the dossier.
Among the subjects of discussion was the need to include a point on prohibiting the destruction of unsold products of large companies (but not SMEs), which is not present in the Commission’s proposal. The Swedish Presidency agreed to slightly modify its compromise proposal by reintroducing the previously deleted Article 20B, which should make it possible to reach a political agreement.
The ambassadors also discussed the scope of the future regulation, which will establish a framework in the EU for the future setting of ecodesign and information requirements for almost all products. Some countries are still questioning whether the automotive and chemicals sectors, which are already covered by other EU legislation, should be included. The Commission wants the widest possible scope.
The deadlines for implementing the objectives of the regulation and each of the future Commission decisions by delegated acts were also discussed, with some delegations wanting longer deadlines.
In accordance with the wishes of the Swedish Presidency, the Competitiveness Council on 22 May will therefore try to reach a ‘general approach’ (a political agreement) on the Council’s negotiating position. The draft compromise on the table, reintroducing Article 20B, will be submitted to ministers. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)