Brussels, 05/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - The association representing the interests of the energy intensive industries of Central Europe, CEEP, stressed in its meeting with Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in Gdansk on Friday 2 October, the need to improve the competitiveness of the European refinery sector and to pave the way for the north-south energy corridor in central and Eastern Europe.
Relocation of refining capacity from the EU to countries where costs are lower and carbon emissions rules less strict is a major challenge for the regions, stated CEEP President Pawel Olechnowicz when he met Sefcovic at the Lotos refinery. “It is also detrimental to the global environment as the manufacturing of oil products in EU refineries is, on average, considerably less carbon intensive when compared to the rest of the world. To face that challenge, we believe the refinery industry should receive 100% of the CO2 allowances until 2030”, argued Olechnowicz.
CEEP also emphasised the need for investment in infrastructure and action to give Europe more energy supply options. Sefcovic highlighted the role of the north-south energy corridor to connect the energy markets in Central Europe both one to another and with those of Western Europe. Sefcovic also promised to ensure that European industry, including the energy sector “has proper conditions to grow” in terms both of investment and of the EU regulations that have an impact on it. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)