Light bulbs going out all over Europe

This September a ban on the manufacture and import of 100-watt and frosted incandescent light bulbs, in use since the 19th century, came into force. The move will be followed by further phase-out steps, until ultimately all conventional bulbs will be banned in four years’ time. The ban is one of a series of measures in the EU to tackle climate change.

The light bulbs are phased out to encourage the switch to more energy-efficient fluorescent or halogen lamps, which use up to 80% less electricity. The Commission estimates that it will help EU households to reduce their electricity use by 10-15%, saving up to 50 euro a year. As it concerns companies, saving energy makes sense as a business strategy and such investments pay themselves back within a few years. It is expected that the reduced electricity consumption will help the EU reduce its CO2 emissions by around 15 million tonnes a year.

While the overall aims of energy efficiency and cost reduction are broadly accepted, there has been some controversy about the way to achieve this. Critics say the new bulbs are gloomy, and can trigger headaches and rashes in people with light sensitive disorders.  Some consumers have been stockpiling the old-style versions over concerns about the higher cost of the long-life bulbs, or for medical and sentimental reasons. The scramble for conventional bulbs illuminates the challenges of persuading consumers to embrace environmentally friendly shopping habits – particularly in the midst of an economic crisis.

For further information, please consult http://ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/ecodesign/lumen/index_en.htm

Treaty of Lisbon to take Europe into the 21st century

The Treaty of Lisbon, signed in December 2007 and coming into force on 1 December 2009 is designed to make EU institutions more democratic and to render decision-making in the enlarged European Union more efficient.  Its measures include provisions for:

A more democratic and transparent Europe

• A strengthened role for the European Parliament - the Parliament’s legislative powers will be extended to cover virtually all areas of EU lawmaking so that the EP and the Council of Ministers, which represents the national governments of EU Member States, will then act in co-decision and on an equal footing in most EU policy areas.
• A greater involvement of national parliaments - national parliaments must be informed of legislative proposals in time to allow them to raise objections if they consider a proposal to be in breach of the principle of subsidiarity.
• A stronger voice for citizens – The Lisbon Treaty introduces the Citizens’ Initiative. If an initiative is signed by a minimum of one million citizens from any Member State, the Commission has to bring forward new policy proposals. A Citizen’s Initiative can cover any area of EU policy making.

A more efficient Europe

• Effective and efficient decision-making - qualified majority voting in the Council will be extended to new policy areas to make decision-making faster and more efficient. From 2014 the qualified majority voting will be based on a ‘double majority’ of 55% of member states, accounting for 65% of the EU’s population.
• A more stable institutional framework - The Lisbon Treaty creates a permanent President of the European Council, elected for two and a half years, replacing the current system of the rotating EU presidency.
• More decision-making power to improve the life of Europeans - The EU gains new competences in the areas of freedom, security and justice, combating terrorism and tackling crime. Other fields where the EU assumes new legislative functions include energy policy, public health, civil protection, climate change, humanitarian aid.

A Europe of rights and values

• the European Charter of Fundamental Rights becomes legally binding to enshrine solidarity mechanisms and the protection of the basic rights of European citizens in EU law.
• Freedom of European citizens - the Treaty of Lisbon reinforces the ‘four freedoms’ – the free movement of goods, capital, services and persons - and the political, economic and social freedom of European citizens.
• Solidarity between Member States - the Treaty of Lisbon provides that the Union and its Member States act jointly in a spirit of solidarity if a Member State is the subject of a terrorist attack or the victim of a natural or man-made disaster.  Solidarity in the area of energy is also emphasised.

Europe more visible as an actor on the global stage

• A single face in foreign affairs: - the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy will unite the two existing posts of High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Commissioner for External Relations. The new High Representative will be a Vice-President of the European Commission and Secretary-General of the European Council. The High Representative will be supported by a dedicated diplomatic service and will speak for the EU in international organisations like the United Nations and whenever the national governments have agreed on a common foreign policy position.
• Merging the ‘Pillars’ of the European Union: The Lisbon Treaty abolishes the three pillars of the European Union and creates a single legal personality for the European Union.

For further information on the Treaty of Lisbon, please consult http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/index_en.htm