F-gas revision passes environment vote
BRUSSELS: The proposed F-gas revision agreement has been approved by the European Parliament’s environment committee this morning by a large majority.
The first item on this morning’s agenda, the F-gas agreement was carried by 46 votes with only one against and three abstentions.
The agreement now goes forward to a full Parliamentary vote in the week of 10 March. It will finally require rubberstamping by the European Council in March or April and will apply from January 1, 2015.
EPEE director general Andrea Voigt welcomed the vote, saying “We are pleased that MEPs have shown overwhelming support for this legislation which will help industry move towards alternative solutions in a safe and efficient way. Reaching an agreement in First Reading provides our members with the regulatory certainty which will enable them to plan for the years ahead.
“As we enter the final straight of this legislative process we now call on the full European parliament and the member states to show similar resolve to their counterparts in the European parliament’s environment committee and adopt the agreement which we believe is in the best interests of business innovation and the environment.”
The UK government has confirmed its support in principle for the draft regulation and has indicated its intention through DEFRA to hold an open meeting in March or April to explain to interested stakeholders the key changes and their impacts, including how the UK intends to work towards implementing the proposed changes.
