DG GROW
Ref. Ares(2022)1175871 - 17/02/2022
Meeting between Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska and
Energy intensive Industries
Berlaymont, Brussels, 11:00-12:30, 4 September 2018
MINI BRIEFING NOTE
Scene setter/Context of the meeting/
Objective of the meeting: You wil meet the
representing Energy
Intensive Industries as well as 1-2
of the European steel, chemical, fuels and
cement industries.
This meeting wil take place in paral el to ongoing work by DG CLIMA/DG ENER on a
draft of the “proposal for a Strategy for long-term EU greenhouse gas emissions
reduction”; expected September/October 2018, and to be discussed later at Cabinet
level for adoption in November 2018.
You will have an exchange of views on the work that the Al iance of energy intensive
industries is doing, fol owing the meeting of the High Level Group in February, to
develop a comprehensive 2050 plan for competitive, low carbon and sustainable
energy-intensive industries.
CVs of the participants enclosed (see background).
KEY messages
1. I would like to thank the Al iance of energy intensive industries for taking seriously
and delivering on the agreement reached during the meeting of the High Level
Group on Energy Intensive Industries in February, to develop a comprehensive
masterplan for competitive, low carbon and sustainable energy-intensive industries.
2. As energy intensive industries account for a large share of emissions but also have
the potential to capitalise on new low-carbon technologies, this work wil be an
important input into the Commission’s proposal on the Strategy for long-term EU
greenhouse gas emissions reduction expected this autumn.
3. This strategy should ensure that Europe stays competitive in the global economy,
while reducing emissions and shifting towards a resource-efficient, circular
economy.
4. Ensuring attractive investment environment in Europe is the key prerequisite for
keeping energy intensive industries in Europe and their successful transition to
carbon neutrality. The Commission will look to provide the necessary investment
environment and analyse financing options once the results are available.
5. I am conscious of the very chal enging time frame for this work.
6. I would like to know more about your findings – the decarbonisation strategy of
energy intensive industries, key gaps and issues that you identified and any future
work you envision.
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Defensives / Q&A
Question:
Transition to carbon neutral industry will require stability and predictability of policies
and energy prices in order to ensure industries' ability to attract the enormous
investments needed for the transition. Can we count on that?
Answer:
We are fully aware that ensuring attractive investment environment in Europe is the
key prerequisite for keeping energy intensive industries in Europe and their successful
transition to carbon neutrality. We wil look to provide the necessary investment
environment; However in this context your contribution and active participation in
discussing of the long-term EU strategy for the reduction of greenhouse emissions will
be crucial.
Question:
How can we ensure the level playing field with foreign competitors who will not bear (or
delay) investment costs needed for the transition to the carbon neutral industry?
Answer:
I fully agree that it is a very important aspect to be considered not only at the end of
transition, but also during each step. We fully understand that industries could be
substantially impacted in a very short time as the last steel crisis showed in 2015/2016.
Energy intensive industries are the main users of the trade defence instruments in the
EU and together with other tools like ETS should provide the necessary protection
during the transition of the industry.
Background information
Commission's work on proposal for a Strategy for long-term EU greenhouse gas
emissions reduction
The European Council of 22 March, in its conclusions, has invited the Commission to
present "by the first quarter of 2019" a proposal for a Strategy for long-term EU
greenhouse gas emissions reduction in accordance with the Paris Agreement, taking
into account the national plans. The Commission aims to bring it out a proposal already
in November this year. Just before the summer break, DG GROW was involved in the
preparatory work coordinated by SG and EPSC for the 6 fol owing building blocks:
• Economy, finance, investment and taxation
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• Social and local aspects
• Innovation, technology, industry and infrastructure
• Natural resources
• Global dimension
• Model ing
During the summer break, DG CLIMA/DG ENER should provide a first internal
consolidated draft in September/October 2018 to be discussed at Cabinet level for
adoption in November.
High Level Group on energy-intensive industries
The High Level Group on energy-intensive industries facilitates discussion on policy
options at the early stages and enables a better involvement of relevant stakeholders.
The last meeting of the High Level Group took place on 28 February 2018, where
Commissioner Bienkowska challenged the Energy Intensive Industries to work together
with the Commission on the development of a comprehensive masterplan for
competitive, low carbon and sustainable energy-intensive industries; the ways to
develop a stable EU regulatory framework as well as on existing and foreseen financing
tools.
Conclusions meeting on 28 February read:
“
The energy-intensive industries and the Commission services should work on the
following areas:
-
Use sectoral roadmaps, visions and low carbon pathways as a starting point to
develop a comprehensive masterplan for competitive, low carbon and
sustainable energy-intensive industries
-
Launch a comprehensive policy discussion on ways to develop a stable EU
regulatory framework providing energy-intensive industries with long term
predictability
-
Hold a comprehensive discussion on existing and foreseen financing tools and the
conclusions of the high level group on sustainable finance
-
DG GROW and the relevant Commission services to conduct together with the
energy-intensive sectors a comprehensive assessment of the risks and mitigation
options of the long-term trajectory towards a low carbon economy
-
Develop conclusions that should be reflected in the Commission’s mid-century
strategy led by CLIMA and inform the “Industry 2030” roundtable”
Since then fol ow-up meetings were organised involving other DGs with representatives
of the Group to discuss these conclusions and the way forward. End July 2018 the
Al iance of Energy Intensive Industries presented preliminary results of their work. The
main report of their work is expected on 7 September.
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CVs of participants
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CEMEX
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