Esta es la versión HTML de un fichero adjunto a una solicitud de acceso a la información 'Cañete and Cabinet meetings with lobby consultancies'.


Ref. Ares(2016)251711 - 18/01/2016
 
 
Date: 12 January 2016 
Place: Brussels 
Participants: Commissioner Arias Cañete with Mr Van Poelvoorde, President of Eurofer, and 
other representatives of Eurofer, Cabinet members (CLB, YS), DG CLIMA 
SUBJECT: market developments in the steel sector, expected impacts of the ETS review 
proposal and suggestions for amendments 
 
Mr Van Poelvoorde started by emphasising that Eurofer fully supports the fight against climate 
change, the Paris Agreement and EU climate, policies including the 2030 targets and the need to 
evolve towards a low-carbon economy by 2050.  
 
He then presented the latest market developments in the steel sector, with particular emphasis on 
the overcapacity in China and the ensuing increasing import, oversupply and decreasing steel prices 
in Europe. Should China be granted Market Economy Status under the WTO, the situation would only 
exacerbate. 
 
The Commissioner reiterated the rationale underpinning the Commission proposal for the ETS 
review, pointing to the detailed conclusions of the European Council of October 2014 as well as the 
objective to minimise or if possible avoid the need to apply the cross-sectoral correction factor to the 
free allocation for energy-intensive industry. 
 
Eurofer explained the high costs impacts of the proposal for the sector based on a study by Ecofys 
and underlined that a tiered approach for the carbon leakage list would better focus on the sectors 
most in need of protection, that the benchmark should be based on real data rather than a standard 
improvement rate and that best performers should receive all the allocation they need to cover their 
emissions. They also stressed that border adjustments are not supported by Eurofer as the negative 
consequences (retaliation, downstream cost increases) are estimated as too high. Finally, a more 
harmonised approach to indirect costs would be welcomed. 
 
The Commissioner suggested further discussions on the cost impacts and the benchmark should take 
place at technical level. He reassured that during the legislative process in the European Parliament 
and the Council, the Commission would act as an honest broker and assess any proposed 
amendments on their merits, while stressing the need for any proposal to obtain the necessary 
majorities in the institutions.