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› Introduction
The European Union (EU) is central to many of the laws and standards applicable across the 27 countries on the European continent.* In addition, some EU legislation may also be applicable in other European countries, in virtue of agreements signed by the parties.**
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The EU political system is managed by three institutions. The European Commission (EC) represents the European interest as a whole. The independent body has the exclusive right to propose laws, which will be enacted by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. Within the EC, the Directorates-General Environment; Enterprise and Industry, and Transport and Energy are mainly responsible for ruling the automotive sector and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the Member States.
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› Overview
Major legislative texts with an impact on the use of refrigerants and the treatment of Mobile Air Conditioning systems (MAC):
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The MAC Directive rules the phase-out of fluorinated gases in general and more specifically in Mobile Air Conditioning systems. It bans refrigerants with a global warming potential of more than 150 starting from 1 January, 2011 until 2017.
- An End-of-Life Vehicles Directive obliges the Member States to set up collection systems and use European material coding standards for cars. All vehicles must be transferred to authorised treatment facilities where priority is given to the re-use and recycling of vehicle components. The Directive calls on manufacturers to limit the use of hazardous substances.
The EU's aim is to reach - by 2010 at the latest - an average CO2 emission figure of 120 g/km for all new passenger cars marketed in the Union. Its strategy rests on the following pillars:
- An Energy Efficiency Action Plan provides a catalogue of measures regarding minimum efficiency standards for highly energy-consumptive areas. It targets the performance of vehicles and Mobile Air Conditioning by pooling technical, environmental, fiscal and financial tools.
- A Car Fuel Efficiency Labelling Directive rules the display of labels, posters and promotion material for new cars. To enhance consumer information, these must state the official fuel consumption and emission data.
- The Community Strategy to Reduce CO2 Emissions from Cars will replace a current voluntary agreement with European carmakers with mandatory CO2 emission limits. Efficiency requirements for MAC are expected to be part of the legislation.
- A common taxation system to promote fuel-efficient cars has been proposed by the EC to stabilize the Internal Market. Tax differentiation will be directly linked to carbon dioxide emissions.
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› Applicable legislation
Please click on the issue of your interest below for an overview, links to official documents and background:
› MAC Directive
› Energy Efficiency Action Plan
› Car Fuel Efficiency Labelling Directive
› Community Strategy to Reduce CO2 Emissions from Cars
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› Standards & Other documents
To access the document of your preference, simply click on the link below.
› Proposal for a Council Directive on passenger car related taxes COM 2005/0261
› European Climate Change Programme
* Member States of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, United Kingdom. On 1 January , 2007, Bulgaria and Romania will join the European Union.
** Current members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) are the 25 EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Main goal is to provide for the liberalisation of trade among the members.
In 1992, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway entered into the European Economic Area (EEA) to participate in the Internal Market, while not assuming the full responsibility of EU membership. All new Community legislation in areas covered by the EEA become integral part of the national legislation of the EEA States. |
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