Sweden reaches out to MEPs on draft efficiency laws

The Swedish Presidency of the European Council, which begins on 1 July, has promised to begin negotiations with the European Parliament on a package of draft energy efficiency laws covering buildings, energy labelling and tyre labelling. Talks are due to begin in September. Sweden is intent on achieving a first-reading agreement on these laws by the end of 2009. Parliament has already adopted first-reading positions on all three draft laws, though a number of delegations have expressed opposition to some of the amendments tabled by MEPs, especially on plans to revise the EU energy performance of buildings directive.

The Swedish Presidency has stated that fighting global climate change will be its top priority over the next six months. A number of high-level meetings have been scheduled in the run-up to the G8 summit and meeting of major emitters in early July. The Swedish Presidency will also be working to finalise the EU’s Copenhagen mandate by late October. The creation of a scientific panel on biodiversity similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is also expected to be pushed through.