At the time of entry into force of this Regulation, the best available technology on the market for household refrigerating appliances in terms of their Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) and noise was identified as follows.

G. whereas the rapidly growing demand for scarce energy and other commodities by emerging economies has progressively pushed supply up to capacity limits; and whereas the upward pressure on price has been exacerbated by the fact that commodities are increasingly considered to be financial assets, to the extent that they can be used as a store of value,

G. whereas the rapidly growing demand for scarce energy and other commodities by emerging economies has progressively pushed supply up to capacity limits; and whereas the upward pressure on price has been exacerbated by the fact that commodities are increasingly considered to be financial assets, to the extent that they can be used as a store of value,

In about 50 % of the Member States either the permits contain even stricter limit values than those required by the WID, e.g. for air emissions of dust, CO, HCl, HF, NOx, SO2 and Hg, or they include additional requirements, e.g. relating to energy efficiency, noise abatement and accident prevention.

A number of reflexions arise concerning the medium-term outlook : - energy savings : if the current trend of relatively low oil prices continues, Commission experts do not expect the Community to achieve its objectives for 1995 - energy efficiency may increase only by 15 % and not by 20 % as hoped ; - the transport sector alone may have a decisive impact on future oil requirements ; - trends in electricity generation : although present capacity is sufficient for short-term needs, the construction of new power stations must be decided upon now in order to meet the demand for electricity in the mid-1990s ; - solid fuels : European coal will be subjected to increasing pressure from chea ...[+++]per imported coal ; - Community oil production : following the current peaks in production, a downward trend is to be expected ; the trend in oil prices will have a decisive impact on the future of oil exploration and production in the Community ; - the situation in the Middle East still gives cause for concern - the position of OPEC : if crude oil prices stay within the US$ 20 to 25 range (1986 values), Commission experts estimate that OPEC's share of world oil requirements in 1985 could be between 22 million and 26 million barrels a day, compared with some 17 million barrels in 1985.