91999E0170

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0170/99

by Jaime Valdivielso de Cué (PPE) to the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Subject: Environment

The Commission has taken steps to reduce the presence of mercury in batteries and accumulators; those measures apply in the Member States as from 1 January 1999.

Can the Commission say what action is being taken to promote the use of rechargeable batteries and accumulators and to encourage scientific research in this field which might help to find a definitive solution to this problem, given that reusable batteries are more environmentally sound?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(12 April 1999)

The measures introduced by Commission Directive 98/101/EC of 22 December 1998 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 91/157/EEC on batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous substances(1) seek to reduce the presence of mercury in batteries and will take effect on 1 January 2000.

According to Article 6 of Council Directive 91/157/EEC of 18 March 1991 on batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous substances(2), Member States have an obligation to set up programmes in order to promote the marketing of batteries containing smaller quantities of polluting substances and research aimed at producing batteries which are more environmentally friendly.

Furthermore, Member States are asked, by virtue of Article 3 of Directive 75/442/EEC on waste(3), to encourage the development of clean technologies and cleaner products. Rechargeable batteries contribute to the general objective of waste management policies and environmental protection. However, presently no specific Community programme or directive promotes the use of these technologies. As the use of re-chargeable batteries has very short economic pay-back time, the Commission trusts market forces will ensure wider penetration.

The Commission has stimulated research and technological development (RTD) on high energy secondary (rechargeable) batteries for electric vehicle propulsion aimed at improving performance and reducing cost. During the fourth framework programme around 20 millions euro was allocated from the non-nuclear energy (JOULE) and industrial and materials technologies programmes to RTD on advanced batteries.

In particular, considerable progress has been made in increasing energy density and improving process technologies for lithium batteries. Although aimed primarily at hybrid and electric vehicle applications, much of this technology can be (and indeed is) adapted to small portable applications. This effort is expected to continue in the fifth framework programme (reference thematic programme 4 "Energy, environment and sustainable development", key action 6 "Economic and efficient energy for a competitive Europe") which explicitly includes research on high capacity microstorage, including energy efficient advanced secondary batteries.

(1) OJ L 1, 5.1.1999.

(2) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991.

(3) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.