Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000401/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Miriam Lexmann (PPE)
Regulation (EU) 2024/573 on fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gas Regulation) envisages a complete phaseout of F-gases in several industrial applications by 2035. As F-gases are important for numerous industries within global supply chains, this Regulation prompted concerns from several World Trade Organization (WTO) members, including the United States, Australia, Japan and Canada. These concerns highlighted the EU’s duty to avoid creating unnecessary trade barriers under the WTO’s Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement.
With the new Trump administration in the United States, the risk of protectionist policies, including retaliatory trade measures against the EU, is rising. New tariffs, for example on cars, would have a devastating impact on Europe’s automotive industry, including in Slovakia.
- 1.Is the Commission willing to remove full bans on F-gases for certain applications from Annex IV before these bans enter into force in the 2030s, respecting the principle of technological neutrality?
- 2.Regarding Article 35(5), will the Commission consider carrying out a review of F-gas restrictions earlier than 2030, maybe in 2025, in order to alleviate the concerns of WTO members?
- 3.Would the review consider the specific role of HFOs as an alternative to the previous generation of F-gases (HFCs), especially given their low global warming potential and the fact that no impact assessments on their full ban have previously been carried out?
Submitted: 29.1.2025