Brussels, 21/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 18 December, the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and recognition of China as a market economy were the two main subjects of the discussions during the meeting in Brussels. Representatives from member states, as well as important stakeholders from the heavy industry sector attended this meeting, as part of the high level group on high energy consuming industries.
Following the first informal meeting of this kind (27 May 2015), this meeting constituted the first formal group meeting and follows a decision made by the European Commission last October. Unsurprisingly, during the discussions the most mentioned subject was the ETS, which is having a significant impact on the competitiveness of the sector. It was also the centre point in the report voted on by the European Parliament in December, which proposes a “carbon adjustment” at the EU's external borders (see EUROPE 11455).
The second subject involved recognising China's status as a market economy. The European Commission is currently examining this question. Obtaining recognition would significantly reduce the anti-dumping measures implemented via the trade defence instrument. This was one of the main points of debate in the special Council of Ministers' meeting on steel and that took place in November in Brussels (see EUROPE 11427).
The other points discussed during the day focused on the opportunities provided by the Juncker plan and the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), as well as the challenges involved in the areas of research and innovation in the “Horizon 2020” EU framework programme and the 5th pillar of the Energy Union innovation and the modernisation of machinery.
One source from the heavy industry sector asserted “the member states appear to have finally realised the scale of the challenge. This is one of the positive points of this first meeting”. The source added, however, that it was still too early to judge whether this format was the most appropriate one or not.
For the time being, no date has been set out for another meeting. A high level conference will take place on 15 February 2016 but this date is regarded as coming very late in the day by a sector that would like swift and decisive action (see EUROPE 11428). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)