Flash report meeting BDI – Commissioner ^ŝŶŬĞǀŝēŝƵƐ͕ϲ:ƵůLJϮϬϮϮĨƌŽŵϭϱŚϬϬƚŽϭϱŚϰϱŽŶtĞďĞdž
Present:
, president of the Federation of German Industries (BDI),
Deputy Director-General (BDI),
,
,
(DG ENV)
started by saying the vast majority of BDI’s member companies are fully behind the
Green Deal targets, and agree that we must have a common EU approach to have an effect globally,
and that we need to protect the environment and “mother earth”. BDI’s members have no doubts
on the importance of the main targets. On the other hand, there is a need to keep the strongest
bargaining power that Europe has, also in global politics, and that is economic strength. To keep that
strength he asks for “a diligent approach” and to remember the needs of companies. There is a
concern that the Commission wants to go too far, too fast.
The Commissioner appreciated the support and to note of the concerns.
In particular, BDI’s members wonder “how many additional permits” they will have to deal with in
the near future. Germany is investing in green infrastructure, decarbonisation and green energy but
this is also required at plant level. Some of the Commission proposals give rise to concern to BDI that
the requirements are “not in proportion with reality”.
The Commissioner replied that stakeholder opinions matter and that his team is ready to cooperate
if BDI would give further clarifications.
made 3 points.
1. IED: BDI finds themselves in the rare position of rejecting the proposals and asking for them to be
withdrawn. They consider that the proposals go too wide regarding deepening existing provisions,
and extending the scope. BDI agrees that a transition is necessary, but that things are going too
rapidly (he in fact refers to overall “Fit for 55” proposals by 2030 here, i.e., including buildings
legislation) not solely with an emphasis on large industry and the IED.
What the Commission considers as strengthening the IED and the application of BAT, BDI thinks may
actually slow down the whole permitting process. ….
2. SPI (
now the ESPR – Ecodesign for Sustainable Products – proposal): this could be a great tool.
Oneconcern is that circular economy efforts have often been too waste-oriented in the past, rather
than design-oriented. The new proposal builds on the Eco-design directive – but the concern is that
companies will have to invest a lot to ensure compliance. The future requirements under ESPR must
be product-specific, and look holistically at the products. E.g. we cannot allow environmental rules
to result in decreased product performance. BDI would like to play a strong role in the process. BDI
has established a Circular Economy grouping.
3. REACH: BDI is concerned that from a risk-based approach the Commission is moving too far to a
hazard-based approach. The toxic-free environment and zero risk approach are not realistic.
The Commissioner replied on IED and BATs that his services are always willing to see how
implementation can be improved but this should not give rise to loopholes. BDI should consider that
it will be 4-5 years before the IED provisions truly enter into force, practically, and hence there is
more time for adaptation, and indeed fine-tuning. However, the Commission has stated very clearly
to Member States that they need to prepare adequate capacity to implement the Green Deal, i.e.,
resources and expertise.
Corporate level and plant-level controls will work together coherently. The Commission will take into
account the dynamics of the situation overall, and sectors, but it must be remembered that
depollution and decarbonisation go hand-in-hand.
The Commissioner stated that the new IED proposals do not regulate GHG. ETS remains the main
instrument to do so. The deletion of Art. 9(2) of the IED creates a high-ambition level playing field
across the EU, in which energy efficiency provisions and audits play a key role, also in implementing
the recently recast Energy Efficiency Directive in doing so.
BAT provisions really drive progress, with the added advantage that the details of compliance are
left to companies and Competent Authorities in Member States, unlocking the advantages. With
regard to implementation, we can see how this might be better achieved, also with the co-
legislators, but with these caveats: we cannot have any loopholes that would allow industry not to
comply, and we must drive the process forwards.
insisted that incremental progress would be better, rather than being asked to
implement more energy efficiency and more ambitious BATs at the same time.
On SPI, the Commissioner said that there is a different understanding in industry of eco-design than
there was some five years ago, and that there is a lot of interaction with industry, and this is crucial
to the process. He said impact assessments will play key roles in the preparatory process. BDI
offered interaction with their committees regarding input to the SPI process.
The Commissioner confirmed that we will start working by product groups as from 2023.
On REACH the Commissioner said that science is informing us that in some cases we need to move
to a more hazard-based approach.