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Joint industry letter to Commissioner Kyriakides – Critical infrastructures

Dear Commissioner,
I am writing to you on behalf of the industry associations ADC3R, ASERCOM, EHI, EHPA, EPEE and EVIA, representing the heating, cooling and ventilation industry (HVACR 1 ) as well as ECSLA and Transfrigoroute International, representing the cold storage and temperature-controlled logistics sector.

With this present letter, we would like to ask the European Commission’s guidance to ensure a more unified approach within the EU Single Market on critical infrastructure and essential goods and services. To support this unified approach, we suggest fast actions for a better implementation and enforcement of Single Market rules as indicated in the Commission Communication 2020/94 from March 10 th , 2020. We have reached a crucial moment, when decisions are taken to define which facilities and services are critical for a country’s operation. HVACR services and manufacturing sites as well as the entire cold chain are part of such critical infrastructure and should therefore be allowed to keep running. It is crucial that all EU Member States adopt a unified approach.

Our industries have an essential role:

  • For the continued distribution of heat-sensitive medicines and medical devices
  • For the transport, delivery and storage of food, including fresh (perishable) and frozen food
  • For the operation of key facilities such as datacentres
  • For the health and well-being of people that need cooling, heating and ventilation for a comfortable and healthy indoor air environment

Our sectors produce, install, service and use systems for heating, cooling and ventilation. Heating, cooling and ventilation systems are even more essential today to ensure that health measures can be safely implemented, in hospitals, supermarkets, or caring homes, but also to ensure that citizens across Europe, staying at home, have functioning heating, cooling and ventilation systems and hot water supply. Likewise, the cold storage and refrigerated transport industry continue to be critical services to ensure the continuity of the cold chain and allow for example shops and supermarkets to be replenished on a daily basis. For these reasons, it will be essential that HVACR technicians are allowed to intervene in case of required equipment installation, maintenance or failure, especially in critical infrastructures; and that the cold chain is able to work continuously without being interrupted.

Through this difficult time, more than ever, our industries remain committed to maintain the health, safety, productivity and comfort of employees and all citizens, and support the measures governments are taking to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Sincerely,

Laurent Guégan, ADC3R President

Wolfgang Zaremski, ASERCOM President

Christine Weiker, ECSLA Secretary General

Federica Sabbati, EHI Secretary General

Thomas Nowak, EHPA Secretary General

Andrea Voigt, EPEE Director General

Joan Miró Ramos, EVIA Chairman

René Moeijes, Transfrigoroute International President

Download: Joint industry letter to Commissioner Kyriakides – Critical infrastructures

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