22.7.2005 Official Journal of the European Union L 191/29 DIRECTIVE 2005/32/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 6 July 2005 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-using products and amending Council Directive 92/42/EEC and Directives 96/57/EC and 2000/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 95 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (3, Whereas: (1) The disparities between the laws or administrative measures adopted by the Member States in relation to the ecodesign of energy-using products can create barriers to trade and distort competition in the Community and may thus have a direct impact on the establishment and functioning of the internal market. The harmonisation of national laws is the only means to prevent such barriers to trade and unfair competition. (2) Energy-using products (EuPs) account for a large proportion of the consumption of natural resources and energy in the Community. They also have a number of other important environmental impacts. For the vast majority of product categories available on the Commu- nity market, very different degrees of environmental impact can be noted though they provide similar functional performances. In the interest of sustainable development, continuous improvement in the overall A = N> O] C 112, 30.4.2004, p. 25. Opinion of the European Parliament of 20 April 2004 (O] C 104 E, 30.4.2004, p. 319), Council Common Position of 29 November 2004 (O] C 38 E, 15.2.2005, p. 45), Position of the European Parliament of 13 April 2005, and Council Decision of 23 May 2005. — P8 N environmental impact of those products should be encouraged, notably by identifying the major sources of negative environmental impacts and avoiding transfer of pollution, when this improvement does not entail excessive costs. The ecodesign of products is a crucial factor in the Community strategy on Integrated Product Policy. As a preventive approach, designed to optimise the environ- mental performance of products, while maintaining their functional qualities, it provides genuine new opportu- nities for manufacturers, for consumers and for society as a whole. Energy efficiency improvement — with one of the available options being more efficient end use of electricity — is regarded as contributing substantially to the achievement of greenhouse gas emission targets in the Community. Electricity demand is the fastest growing energy end use category and is projected to grow within the next 20 to 30 years, in the absence of any policy action to counteract this trend. A significant reduction in energy consumption as suggested by the Commission in its European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) is possible. Climate change is one of the priorities of the Sixth Community Environment Action Programme, laid down by Decision No 1600/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (°). Energy saving is the most cost-effective way to increase security of supply and reduce import dependency. Therefore, substantial demand side measures and targets should be adopted. OJ L 242, 10.9.2002, p. 1.