Brussels, 18/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - In rejecting, by 44 votes to 14, the draft resolution brought forward by German MEPs Holger Krahmer (ALDE) and Anja Weisgerber (EPP-ED), the European Parliament environment committee, chaired by Czech Miroslav Ouzky (EPP-ED) gave its backing to the European Commission proposal to phase out incandescent light bulbs between 2009 and 2012 and replace them with more efficient halogen bulbs or low consumption LBC bulbs, which use up to 80% less energy. The Commission proposal had previously been backed member states' experts on the eco-design regulation committee on 8 December (see EUROPE 9799). Under the current directive 2005/32/EC on eco-design, the Commission can set minimum energy efficiency and functionality requirements for products such as widely available electronic goods, household and heating appliances. The Parliament and Council are able to block such measures under the regulation with control procedure, used by Krahmer and Weisgerber to try to prevent the phasing out of incandescent bulbs. Parliament now has until 15 March, if it wishes, to oppose the Commission proposal. The regulation should come into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal. Products already on the market may still be sold. According to the Commission, moving to low energy light bulbs will save EU citizens close to 40 terawatt-hours (roughly equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of Romania, or to the yearly output of ten 500-megawatt power stations) and will cut about 15 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. (E.H./transl.rt)