The UK Industrial Emissions Directive Alliance, of which EEF are a founder member, are urging Members of the European Parliament to vote against this proposed change to the directive which would further reduce Europe’s competitiveness at a time of great economic uncertainty.
The UK successfully implemented this directive (IPPC) to take account of individual site conditions, however the ESN proposals would import a “one size fits all” regulatory model to set limits for each sector and ignore local factors leaving UK industry at a massive disadvantage and facing huge increases in costs.
“Enforcing the existing Directive in those Member States which are non-compliant should be the priority of the Commission, rather than imposing new rigid obligations on all Member States” argues Kevin Considine EEF, Senior Climate and Environment Policy Adviser
He added:
“The proposal will take the directive away from its risk-based approach and could encourage Member States to settle for a set minimum standard which would weaken the directive’s effectiveness.”
Industry associations urge MEPs to reject the ESN proposal and instead back the EPP proposal which seeks to offer a pragmatic and workable compromise.