Brussels, 24/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has approved, from the competition angle, the agreement between Erupean electrical motor manufacturers to reduce by 50%, by 2003, their sales of motors with a low energy efficiency. About twenty manufacturers grouped within the European Committee of Manufacturers of Electrical Machines and Power Electronics (CEMEP) and representing 80% of sales in the EU, have jointly defined three categories of low voltage motors and have agreed to reduce by half their sales of motors in category 3 within three years.
These motors, used mainly in pomps, ventilators and compressors, account for 70% of the production of low voltage motors and 30% of sales in Europe, states the Commission. The agreement was concluded in consultation with the directorate general for energy at the Commission, in the context of the European strategy for improving energy efficiency of appliances and reducing CO2 emissions (see EUROPE of 28 April, p.8). The Competition services considered that, even if this agreement covers a considerable part of the market, it is not tantamount to restricting competition. They took into account the fact that the users are not very sensitive to the criteria of energy consumption. What is more, notes the Commission, the agreement does not fix individual obligations, but an overall target which leaves considerable latitude to producers regarding the ways to reduce sales of the most polluting appliances.