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Eickhout slams critics for defending US and Japanese interests

EUROPE: EU environment committee rapporteur Bas Eickhout has hit out at critics of the F-gas proposals, accusing them of defending American and Japanese refrigerant interests. 

Speaking at the end of today’s F-gas plenary meeting in the European Parliament, Eickhout said it was time to choose for European industry and European innovation over the the aims of American and Japanese lobbyists.

“When you are saying this is a green ideology, you are defending American and Japanese companies who like to sell some of these chemicals and are only interested in innovation in the chemicals themselves, which in the end even deliver PFAS in heat pumps.”

He denied claims from some MEPs that the F-gas proposals were benefiting the interests of German companies.

“This is an industry that is all over Europe. And it’s all over Europe investing in the innovation and in new jobs and that’s exactly what we’re supporting here,” he said. “The American and the Japanese companies are not going into that innovation, it is the European ones.”

Clearly irritated at the push back from some of the Central and Eastern European countries who are seeking a relaxation of the phase down timetable and product bans, he added: “So this time, it is very clear cut. And we have sufficient time we have talked to a lot of industry who said we can do it already next year but we even allowed more time, we even have safeguards, we even have asked the commission to make sure that you’re keeping it on track for the implementation of RepowerEU. 

“So all that is in place and then now still delaying things because some of the American and Japanese lobby is asking you to do so. I think this is time to choose for European industry and European innovation.”

Related stories:

Timmermans calls for F-gas backing29 March 2023
EUROPE: European Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans has pleaded with MEPs not to chain themselves to the past and to back the F-gas revision proposals in tomorrow’s European parliamentary vote. Read more…

F-gas amendments flood in as MEPs prepare to vote – 28 March 2023
EUROPE: As the European Parliament prepares to vote on revisions to the F-gas regulations, dozens of new last-minute amendments have been tabled by MEPs. Read more…

Industry offers counter F-gas proposals – 22 March 2023
EUROPE: Leading groups representing the HVAC, refrigeration and foam insulation sectors are calling on the European Parliament to take a practical approach in the upcoming vote on the F-gas revision. Read more…

Scientists back propane in heat pumps – 18 March 2023
SWEDEN: More than 40 scientists from across Europe have signed a position statement backing what they say is the proven superior efficiencies of hydrocarbon refrigerants in heat pumps. Read more…

German groups warn of refrigeration “extinction” – 9 March 2023
GERMANY: Industry groups are pleading with their members and their customers to urgently draw the attention of politicians to the “major problems” posed by the F-gas revision and PFAS proposals. Read more…

F-gas concessions fail to pacify manufacturers – 2 March 2023
EUROPE: The European Parliament’s environment committee (ENVI) has relaxed some of the equipment bans proposed in the EC’s F-gas revision but not enough to dispel industry concerns. Read more…

“Pause for thought,” says EPEE – 1 March 2023
BELGIUM: EPEE has urged the European Parliament to pause for thought before pressing ahead with the F-gas bans voted for by its environment committee. Read more…

Enviro committee backs “ambitious” F-gas revision – 1 March 2023
EUROPE: The European Parliament’s Environment Committee has today agreed to an “ambitious” revision of the F-gas regulation (517/2014) despite industry concerns that the proposals are unrealistic and jeopardise climate targets. Read more…

Euro vote a major setback for heat pumps – 1 March 2023
BELGIUM: The European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) has described today’s F-gas vote as a major setback for heat pumps in Europe. Read more…

EIA applauds positive F-gas vote – 1 March 2023
UK: Green group the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has applauded the “urgently needed” F-gas bans voted on today by the European Parliament’s Environment Committee (ENVI). Read more…

Euro industry calls for “realistic” F-gas vote – 27 February 2023
EUROPE: Twelve leading associations and groups active in the European HVACR market have called on the European Parliament’s environment committee to reject amendments which would ban F-gases. Read more…

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