Representatives of 39 businesses and six national trade associations convened in central Brusselsfor the 7^th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the European VentilationIndustry Association (EVIA). Officially opening the proceedings, Chairman ofEVIA, Mr. Joan Miro Ramos praised EVIA’s work during 2016/2017 including intensifyingactivities on the Clean Energy Package, producing a third FAQ on Ecodesignrequirements for ventilation units, as well as launching a specific campaign toraise awareness on the importance of indoor air quality.

Prioritiesfor 2017/2018:

EVIA’s programme for 2017/2018 aims to consolidate its activitiesand engagement with stakeholders on key EU legislative dossiers ranging fromthe central components of the Clean Energy for All Europeans Package, theEnergy Performance in Buildings (EPBD), Energy Efficiency and to the RenewableEnergy Directives. EVIA will also continue updating and promoting theassociation’s Ecodesign FAQ in order to clarify rules applied to ventilationproducts to ensure effective implementation of the regulations.

EVIA will commence investigating the impact of digitisation on theindustry, through the creation of a Digital Taskforce with a remit that willcover smart and connected devices, data privacy and security.

EVIA will also closely collaborate this year with the EuropeanPartnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE) to host the second edition ofthe EUREKA Conference, which will be held in Berlin on 11-12 December, and focuson the contribution that heating, cooling and ventilation can make tosustainable lifestyles. A range of sponsorship opportunitiesare available and expressions of interest would be warmly welcomed.

Indoor AirQuality (IAQ) Campaign and Taskforce:

In 2017/2018 EVIA will continue to contribute to setting theagenda and raising awareness of the health effects of poor IAQ, in addition toits negative implications for productivity. EVIA’s dedicated IAQ Taskforce ledby EVIA’s Secretary General Mr. Russell Patten, is committed to building on itssuccessful programmes of events held in 2016. The IAQ Taskforce will alsocontinue to represent EVIA in the EU decision-making process, conductingadvocacy on the EPBD to promote systems and solutions that empower consumers tobenefit simultaneously from lower energy consumption and better IAQ.

Elections tothe Steering Committee:

Mr. Joan Miro Ramos was reappointed as Chairman of EVIA by theSteering Committee. The 2017 AGM also coincided with the lapsing of TreasurerMr. Peter Fenkl’s (Ziehl-Abegg) term on EVIA’s Steering Committee. Mr. Fenklwas re-elected to the position of Treasurer.

The composition of the Steering Committee for 2017/2018 is asfollows:

• Joan MiroRamos (Soler & Palau) – Chairman
• AxelDiepolder (Helios) – Vice-Chair
• MoraneRey-Huet (Aldes) – Vice-Chair
• Peter Fenkl(Ziehl-Abegg) – Treasurer
• ColinTimmins (BEAMA) – Associations Representative
• Fabian Frick(Hoval)
• Yves Lambert(Renson)
• Kurt Maurer(Systemair)
• Erik vanHeuveln (Zehnder Group)