Objective

Ecodesign and energy labelling for energy-related products enjoy widespread support by suppliers, retailers, consumers and citizens, but non-compliance with the requirements is a significant and growing concern (e.g. over 70% of products failing to meet the information requirements). Lack of awareness, knowledge or detailed understanding of the legislative provisions by economic operators is one of the likely main reasons, rather than bad will. The objective of this action is to increase visibility to operators of (existing) resources available to help them comply through increased outreach and proactive involvement by relevant stakeholders (as specified below).

Scope

To address this, the proposed action(s) should establish a facility combining both reactive and proactive assistance to economic operators through targeted and timely information to increase their awareness, knowledge and understanding of the concerned Regulations. The precise nature of the action is very much left up to the project proposals to define, though attention should be also given to reaching small and medium size suppliers and retailers (e.g., those not engaged in trade associations and/or located in remote areas), for example on regulatory changes concerning new or rescaled energy labels. Actions should cover at least the following and have both a reactive and proactive nature:

• Raise the capacity of manufacturers and, in particular, retailers on future rescaled, new labels or other important topics through targeted and timely communication and training campaigns, taking into account and, when possible, building upon the experience of previous, related H2020 projects.
• Use or adapt existing technical guidance and promotional material or create new ones as appropriate. The facility should not invent or take responsibility for interpretations or other guidance, but rather help users find what exists (and refer to the competent national authorities, including market surveillance authorities or the Commission on questions where no answers or guidance exists).
• Disseminate knowledge about available guidance/resources through the appropriate channels (websites, emails, webinars, participation in conferences, sectoral trade fairs, mailings, industry associations, specialised networks etc.), including on EPREL, with a view to raising retailers’ awareness on its existence and stimulating their potential role as multipliers.
• Set-up a help-line service to address enquiries from economic operators (which are often too specific to be dealt with effectively by the Commission’s Europe Direct service). Questions for which no authoritative or clear answers exist yet may simply be acknowledged as such and “escalated” to the authorities.

To ensure adequacy of the information provided, beneficiaries will proactively liaise with the Commission or the competent national authorities, including national market surveillance authorities, where appropriate.

All relevant stakeholders (e.g. European and national level organisations) necessary for the successful implementation of the action should be involved, including at least:

• European organisations representing relevant economic operators in different sectors (e.g. associations of suppliers, associations of retailers), with a minimum of 5 partners covering together through their membership at least 2/3 of the EU Member States.
• European organisations representing relevant actors in the public or non-profit sector, with a minimum of 2 partners representing consumer, environmental NGO or Market Surveillance Authorities’ organisations, covering together through their membership at least 2/3 of the EU Member States.

Deadline

16 November 2022 

More information: Funding and Tenders