The European Commission has presented a package of initiatives – the Clean Industrial Deal, the Action Plan for Affordable Energy and the Omnibus Simplification Package. – that have implications for the lighting sector.
While LightingEurope and LAI welcomes the efforts to support European industry with the Action Plan for Affordable Energy and to reduce regulatory burdens with the Simplification Package, but egret that energy efficiency technologies, including efficient and intelligent lighting, have been overlooked in the Clean Industrial Deal and that lighting is almost completely absent from the Action Plan for Affordable Energy.
We strongly welcome the Omnibus Simplification Package in general as it aims to reduce reporting burdens. The introduction of obligations that are proportionate to the size of the company and its environmental and climate impact is a move in the right direction, especially for SMEs.
“This is an important step to ensure that reporting requirements remain manageable for companies of all sizes,” said Elena Scaroni, Secretary General of LightingEurope. “SMEs, which make up a large part of our industry, will benefit from rules that are adapted to their capacity, allowing them to focus on growth and innovation.”
LightingEurope will closely monitor the legislative process of this initiative to ensure that the voice of the lighting industry and its SMEs is heard.
The Clean Industrial Deal aims to support the green transition by promoting clean technologies. However, the deal fails to recognise the critical role of energy efficiency and lighting technologies in contributing to the EU’s climate targets.
We welcome the Affordable Energy Action Plan which aims to reduce energy costs, including by incentivising energy efficiency solutions. We also appreciate the emphasis on the need for better enforcement of product rules, including online. We regret that the proposed actions do not seem strong enough at this stage and that the role of renovation and smart and efficient lighting is almost completely overlooked.
“Efficient and intelligent lighting is an immediately-available and cost-effective solution to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions,” said Teresa Selvaggio, Director of Public Affairs of LightingEurope. “To meet
Europe’s decarbonisation targets, efficient and intelligent lighting must also benefit from the support mechanisms outlined in the Clean Industrial Deal and the Affordable Energy Action Plan to complete the transition to LEDs, starting with the renovation of public buildings.”
LightingEurope and LAI urge policymakers to ensure that all clean technologies, including efficient and intelligent lighting, receive adequate support.
