Tuesday, December 22, 2009

European steel industry disappointed by Copenhagen deal

EU must not move unilaterally to 30% target

“The Copenhagen deal is a disappointment. We had hoped that an agreement in Copenhagen would have resulted in a global level playing field between industrial competitors worldwide”, said EUROFER director general Gordon Moffat. "Until an agreement is reached which results in comparable efforts by industries worldwide the EU must maintain the measures foreseen to protect the competitiveness of European industry”.

EUROFER urges the EU therefore to ensure the following:

  • no unilateral increase of the EU's GHG target from 20% to 30%,
  • in the implementation of the EU emissions trading directive (ETS) fully 100% free allowances, based on achievable benchmarks, for the European steel industry and other sectors at risk of carbon leakage,
  • compensation for ETS related increases in electricity prices in order to preserve steel recycling in Europe,
  • no European financial support for climate change mitigation and adaptation measures to countries which do not agree to international monitoring of all their industrial GHG emissions,
  • increase of financial support for R&D of carbon lean technologies in the EU.

Represented by EUROFER, the European steel industry is the world leader in its sector with a turnover of EUR 190 billion and direct employment of 420 thousand people, producing 200 million tonnes of steel per year.

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