Commission Workplan shows busy years ahead

On 15 November 2011, the European Commission adopted its 2012 Work Programme. In terms of priorities these include:

• ‘Building a Europe of stability and responsibility’, with the aim of completing the reform of the financial sector,
• ‘Building a Union of growth and solidarity’, which includes the Single Market and “encouraging a jobs-rich recovery”,
• And ‘Giving the EU an effective voice in the wider world’

Several of the initiatives proposed are of relevance to the cement industry. In 2012, the Commission plans to include maritime transport emissions under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETSⁱ), subject to there being no international agreement on reduction targets in this area by 2011. The Commission also plans to:

• publish a Communication on Health & Safety,
• conduct a review of the REACHⁱ Regulation
• carry out a revision of the implementation of the Europe 2020 Flagship on industrial policy
• publish a report on Carbon Capture and Storage.

For 2013, the Commission envisages, amongst others:

• an EU adaptation to climate change strategy,
• a revision of the Directive on protection of workers against the risks associated to the exposure to Carcinogens and Mutagens at work,
• a Communication on energy technologies in a future European energy policy,
• a review of air quality policies
• an assessment of the implementation of the Directive on environmental liability,
• and a mid-term review of the 2020 Biodiversity Strategy

More information: Commission Press Release