During the remote plenary session (23-26/11/2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate and vote on ways to boost sustainability by granting EU consumers a “right to repair” and by tackling practices that intentionally shorten the lifetime of products. The results of the vote are: 696 in favour, 34 against, 207 abstentions. Illustration shots of collect for recycling, a repair station and sales point of recycled products in Munich, Germany.

Brussels

debate

plenary session

vote

consumers' protection (T)

circular economy (T)

REYNDERS, Didier (BE, EC)

HOJSÍK, Martin (Renew, SK)

CORMAND, David (Greens/EFA, FR)

Right to repair: extracts from the debate (23/11), from the vote on the report David CORMAND (Greens/EFA,FR), rapporteur, and - illustration shots

Title: Right to repair: extracts from the debate (23/11) and from the vote on the report David CORMAND (Greens/EFA,FR), rapporteur (I-199181)

SOUNDBITE (French), David CORMAND (Greens/EFA, FR), Rapporteur, We want to extend the legal guarantee manufacturers can produce, for example, washing machines, which last for 10 years or longer, but the guarantee of the warranty is only for two or three years. So we would like to see this warranty extended. We'd also like to see a usage counter like in a car. There's an element which tells you how long, how many hours, how much distance have you done. So this provides more information for consumers.

SOUNDBITE (French), David CORMAND (Greens/EFA, FR), Rapporteur , We want to see the right to repair your products, this right to repair will allow us to have longer timelines for access to spare parts, replacement parts at a fair price. Now, all of the studies we've done at the EU shows that three quarters of European citizens would prefer to repair their products, but to be able to do so, the cost of replacement parts needs to be lower and they need to be available on the market.

SOUNDBITE (French), David CORMAND (Greens/EFA, FR), Rapporteur, We support binding labelling. There's an amendment which will be put to this report. We want to see this binding labelling requirements so that a consumer can understand the environmental quality of a product. Now we understand the cost of a product and it's the cost to purchase it. But there's also this hidden cost. How much does this product cost to the environment.

SOUNDBITE (English), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, In this context, the digital product passport could combine unique product notification with data collected by different actors in the value chain. This could provide better information to economic operators and surveillance authorities and the general public. It could enable more sustainable products, as well as the emergence of new sustainable business opportunities, strengthening the competitiveness of the EU industry and the resilience of the EU economy.

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin HOJS&#205;K (RE, SK), ENVI Committee, It's also symbolic that we are having this discussion during the European Week of Waste Reduction, because let's not forget that prevention is the best way to deal with the waste problem.

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin HOJS&#205;K (RE, SK), ENVI Committee, So it is companies that need to change. It is the consumer culture that needs to change, but it is up to us, the legislators, to change the system, to change it in a way that leads us to climate neutral and circular economy. This means more information and rights for consumers. This means stepping up our efforts against premature obsolescence by ensuring and supporting repairability of the product. Re-use, replace the ability of the part, extending the guarantees, changing the designs of the products to extend the life cycles will not only help the consumers and increase that trust in the European market and the European ideas, but also create opportunities for small and local businesses across the EU, stimulate innovation and maintain the value of the product.

vote on the CORMAND report, (3 shots) Panel: +696, - 34, abstention 207

Illustration part, &ldquo;ConJob&rdquo; (collect for reycling, repair station) , Munich, Germany

Illustration footage 'Halle Zwei', Munich, Germany, sales point of recycled products,