In a joint declaration published on Friday 18 July, ten EU countries, members of the ‘Ministerial Alliance for Energy-Intensive Industries’ call for action to preserve industries that have long been flagships of the European economy. These include the steel, chemicals and non-metallic minerals industries, which are facing a number of difficulties, including high energy costs, according to the ten signatory countries.
They list a series of actions that they consider essential in the short term. For example, they are calling for stable carbon prices under the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
In view of high energy prices, the ministers are also calling for the compensation scheme for the indirect costs of ETS emissions to be extended beyond 2030.
On the other hand, the Alliance for Energy-Intensive Industries is calling for greater use of trade defence tools to protect European companies from unfair competition from abroad.
Finally, the ten countries stress the essential role they believe pilot markets play in stimulating demand for the green products that traditional industries are developing. “The law to accelerate industrial decarbonisation should include such measures”, they write. This is due to be proposed by the European Commission by the end of the year.
The members of this alliance are: Austria, Spain, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
See the joint statement: https://aeur.eu/f/hy5 (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)