MEPs and their offices working well together
JANUARY 2011: IN the European Parliaments in Brussels and Strasbourg our two British National Party MEPs and their teams of political advisers work closely together on voting lists and committee reports. Back in Britain so do their constituency offices.
Here's an example of the co-operation, with the work of one MEP helping an enquiry from the a constituent of the other.
A letting agency covering rural Lancashire wrote to Nick Griffin's office concerning a new EU law is to prohibit the sale of domestic heating oil to customers after 2013.
The proprietor of the firm wanted to know the details and how it might effect his portfolio of properties
Constituency Office manager Tina Wingield replied:
"May I direct you to reports which were published on the website of Andrew Brons MEP, on 15th July 2009.
As the exchange below between Mr Brons and the Council and Commission well illustrates, EU policy making is often as clear as mud!
In short, the Energy Using Products Directive does not introduce directly binding requirements for specific products, but it does define conditions and criteria for EU-wide rules. The timescale for national governments to ensure that their domestic market conforms to the set requirements varies from product to product. At the present time, it appears that the implementing measures for oil fired domestic boilers in the UK have yet to be definitively set. While 2013 was set as a target date, it may be that as a result of the consultation process with stakeholders, this date could be extended.
I will, of course, advise you when I gain further information on exactly when the law in the UK will change.
Mr Brons was asked by a number of his constituents to try to persuade the European Parliament to postpone the implementation of the Energy Using Products (EuP) Directive (2009/125/EC). To this end, he submitted a Written Question to the European Council on 5th August, asking:
“Is the council aware that:
1. 1.1 million homes in the United Kingdom are heated by oil fired heating boilers and that the directive will prevent them from buying replacement boilers from 2013
2. Most of these homes are not connected to the gas pipelines and cannot easily be connected
3. The new style boilers emitting low levels of NOx are too large to fit into the average kitchen
4. Homes in the UK need to fit central heating boilers in their kitchens because most homes do not have suitable cellars or outhouses in which to put them.
Would the Council consider granting the United Kingdom a five year derogation from the Directive so that it did not come into operation until 2018?
This would enable the boiler manufacturing industry to develop new technology to produce smaller low NOx emitting boilers that would fit into an average kitchen?”
Mr Brons received the following reply from Mr Piebalgs on behalf of the European Commission on 14th September:
"Under the ecodesign for energy using products Directive(1) a technical, environmental and economic analysis (‘preparatory study’) on boilers was carried out(2), and, amongst others, NOx emissions were identified as a significant environmental aspect.
The Commission is currently in the consultation and preparation phase of the relevant Eco-design measure, and will only later table a draft measure on this issue. After a vote in the competent Committee, this measure will then go to the Council and the Parliament for scrutiny before the final adoption by the Commission.
The Commission is well aware of the particular conditions of using/installing boilers in the United Kingdom (UK). Possible ecodesign requirements on NOx emissions (and further significant environmental aspects) will consider the effects on the UK replacement market, the energy supply infrastructure and the usage conditions, with a view to fulfil the provisions of the Ecodesign Directive, and in particular its Article 15 which requires i.a. that ecodesign implementing measures shall not have a negative impact on the functionality of the product and on the affordability for the consumer.
The levels of NOx emissions and the timetable of a possible entry into force are currently discussed with all stakeholders (including industry as well as consumer and environmental organisations) and Member States in the context of the Ecodesign Consultation Forum(3). As required by Article 15 of the Ecodesign Directive, levels and timing will take into account the impacts on manufacturers, e.g. the possible need for re-design of products and possible associated costs, including on UK manufacturers of oil and kerosene boilers, in particular SMEs.
More information on the ecodesign policy can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/ecodesign/eco_design_en.htm
(1) Directive 2005/32/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2005 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-using products and amending Council Directive 92/42/EEC and Directives 96/57/EC and 2000/55/EC of the Parliament and of the Council, OJ L 191, 22.7.2005.
(2) www.ecoboiler.org
(3) The Commission staff working document for the meeting of the Consultation Forum that took place end June 2009 suggests 105 mg/kWh by 2014, while Eurofuel suggests 120 mg/kWh by 2015
Mr Brons also received the following reply from the European Council on 12th October 2009:
"The Council assumes that the Honourable Member is referring to the ongoing consultations relating to boilers, led by the Commission, of Member States and stakeholders under Articles 15(4) and 18 of the Ecodesign of Energy Using Products Directive(1), that could lead to the adoption of an implementing measure concerning such products as provided for by Article 15 of the Ecodesign Directive.
It is therefore up to the Commission to decide if and when it will present a draft implementing measure to that effect and to consider the appropriateness, in that context, of a derogation as advocated by the Honourable Member. Only then will the Council be called upon to decide on the proposal, if it is not accepted by the Committee established in conformity with Article 19 of the directive. In that event, the Council will, in its deliberations on the proposal of the Commission, of which the European Parliament will also be informed, take due account of the information provided by the Honourable Member.”
(1) Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2005 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-using products and amending Council Directive 92/42/EEC and Directives 96/57/EC and 2000/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, OJ L 191, 22.7.2005, p. 29.
Here's an example of the co-operation, with the work of one MEP helping an enquiry from the a constituent of the other.
A letting agency covering rural Lancashire wrote to Nick Griffin's office concerning a new EU law is to prohibit the sale of domestic heating oil to customers after 2013.
The proprietor of the firm wanted to know the details and how it might effect his portfolio of properties
Constituency Office manager Tina Wingield replied:
"May I direct you to reports which were published on the website of Andrew Brons MEP, on 15th July 2009.
As the exchange below between Mr Brons and the Council and Commission well illustrates, EU policy making is often as clear as mud!
In short, the Energy Using Products Directive does not introduce directly binding requirements for specific products, but it does define conditions and criteria for EU-wide rules. The timescale for national governments to ensure that their domestic market conforms to the set requirements varies from product to product. At the present time, it appears that the implementing measures for oil fired domestic boilers in the UK have yet to be definitively set. While 2013 was set as a target date, it may be that as a result of the consultation process with stakeholders, this date could be extended.
I will, of course, advise you when I gain further information on exactly when the law in the UK will change.
Mr Brons was asked by a number of his constituents to try to persuade the European Parliament to postpone the implementation of the Energy Using Products (EuP) Directive (2009/125/EC). To this end, he submitted a Written Question to the European Council on 5th August, asking:
“Is the council aware that:
1. 1.1 million homes in the United Kingdom are heated by oil fired heating boilers and that the directive will prevent them from buying replacement boilers from 2013
2. Most of these homes are not connected to the gas pipelines and cannot easily be connected
3. The new style boilers emitting low levels of NOx are too large to fit into the average kitchen
4. Homes in the UK need to fit central heating boilers in their kitchens because most homes do not have suitable cellars or outhouses in which to put them.
Would the Council consider granting the United Kingdom a five year derogation from the Directive so that it did not come into operation until 2018?
This would enable the boiler manufacturing industry to develop new technology to produce smaller low NOx emitting boilers that would fit into an average kitchen?”
Mr Brons received the following reply from Mr Piebalgs on behalf of the European Commission on 14th September:
"Under the ecodesign for energy using products Directive(1) a technical, environmental and economic analysis (‘preparatory study’) on boilers was carried out(2), and, amongst others, NOx emissions were identified as a significant environmental aspect.
The Commission is currently in the consultation and preparation phase of the relevant Eco-design measure, and will only later table a draft measure on this issue. After a vote in the competent Committee, this measure will then go to the Council and the Parliament for scrutiny before the final adoption by the Commission.
The Commission is well aware of the particular conditions of using/installing boilers in the United Kingdom (UK). Possible ecodesign requirements on NOx emissions (and further significant environmental aspects) will consider the effects on the UK replacement market, the energy supply infrastructure and the usage conditions, with a view to fulfil the provisions of the Ecodesign Directive, and in particular its Article 15 which requires i.a. that ecodesign implementing measures shall not have a negative impact on the functionality of the product and on the affordability for the consumer.
The levels of NOx emissions and the timetable of a possible entry into force are currently discussed with all stakeholders (including industry as well as consumer and environmental organisations) and Member States in the context of the Ecodesign Consultation Forum(3). As required by Article 15 of the Ecodesign Directive, levels and timing will take into account the impacts on manufacturers, e.g. the possible need for re-design of products and possible associated costs, including on UK manufacturers of oil and kerosene boilers, in particular SMEs.
More information on the ecodesign policy can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/ecodesign/eco_design_en.htm
(1) Directive 2005/32/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2005 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-using products and amending Council Directive 92/42/EEC and Directives 96/57/EC and 2000/55/EC of the Parliament and of the Council, OJ L 191, 22.7.2005.
(2) www.ecoboiler.org
(3) The Commission staff working document for the meeting of the Consultation Forum that took place end June 2009 suggests 105 mg/kWh by 2014, while Eurofuel suggests 120 mg/kWh by 2015
Mr Brons also received the following reply from the European Council on 12th October 2009:
"The Council assumes that the Honourable Member is referring to the ongoing consultations relating to boilers, led by the Commission, of Member States and stakeholders under Articles 15(4) and 18 of the Ecodesign of Energy Using Products Directive(1), that could lead to the adoption of an implementing measure concerning such products as provided for by Article 15 of the Ecodesign Directive.
It is therefore up to the Commission to decide if and when it will present a draft implementing measure to that effect and to consider the appropriateness, in that context, of a derogation as advocated by the Honourable Member. Only then will the Council be called upon to decide on the proposal, if it is not accepted by the Committee established in conformity with Article 19 of the directive. In that event, the Council will, in its deliberations on the proposal of the Commission, of which the European Parliament will also be informed, take due account of the information provided by the Honourable Member.”
(1) Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2005 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-using products and amending Council Directive 92/42/EEC and Directives 96/57/EC and 2000/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, OJ L 191, 22.7.2005, p. 29.
