Eurobrief May 2009

EDITORIAL How construction can help refloat the EU's economy May 2009 - Ever since the impact of the economic crisis began to be felt in Europe at the end of 2008, CEMBUREAU has been vocal in calling upon the European Institutions to stimulate investments in the construction sector as a tool to refloat Europe’s economy. In February 2009, that message was pressed upon President Barroso as, it was stressed, this would not only assist the EU’s economy in the short term, but also improve the EU’s infrastructure and competitiveness in the longer term.

HEALTH AND SAFETY First coordinated REACH enforcement project started A joint REACH enforcement project, entitled REACH-ENFORCE-1, has been launched. National inspectors will be involved in checking pre-registrations and registrations for substances and SDS.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME European Parliament allocates €18bn for CCS demonstration plants The European Parliament’s Report on a proposal for a Regulation establishing a programme to aid economic recovery by granting Community financial assistance to projects in the field of energy was adopted in Plenary earlier this month.

OTHER NEWS EUPAVE technical seminar on concrete safety barriers EUPAVE, the European Concrete Paving Association, plans to hold a Technical Seminar entitled Concrete Safety Barriers – New Insights and Developments on Safety and Environment in Brussels on 9 June.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Scotland puts forward CCS proposals Scotland has put forward proposals for establishing carbon capture and storage (CCS) plants under the sea bed.

OTHER NEWS Council to adopt Ecodesign Directive during Swedish Presidency The Council will adopt the Proposal for a Directive establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy related products in July or September 2009.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Commission to adopt communication on CCS in developing countries The European Commission plans to adopt a communication on financing carbon capture and storage (CCS) in emerging and developing countries next month.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Sweden to call for CO2 emissions tax Sweden, which takes over the Presidency of the EU Council in July 2009, has stated its intention of pushing for an EU-wide tax on carbon dioxide emissions that would apply to industrial sectors not currently covered by the EU’s Emission Trading Scheme (ETS).

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Deutsche Bank revises CO2 emissions estimate Deutsche Bank has cut its 2009 estimate of carbon emissions from sectors covered by the EU’s Emission Trading Scheme (ETS).

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Greenhouse gas emissions fall in 2008 Greenhouse gas emissions from EU businesses participating in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) fell 3.06% in 2008 compared with a year earlier, according to the European Commission.

ENVIRONMENT MEPs express concern over DG Energy and Climate proposals A group of MEPs has expressed concern over European Commission plans to create a new Directorate-General (DG) for energy and climate.

ENVIRONMENT Environment to lead on adaptation to climate change White Paper The European Parliament’s Environment Committee has been appointed as the lead committee on the Commission’s White Paper entitled ‘Towards a European Climate Change Adaptation Programme’.

ENVIRONMENT Energy labelling proposal: Parliament adopts opinion in 1st reading The Proposal for a Directive on labelling of energy-related products was debated and voted on in the European Parliament’s plenary session this month.

ENVIRONMENT Revised cement, lime and magnesium oxide BREF published The final draft (following the Information Exchange Forum - IEF) of the revised Reference Document on Best Available Techniques (BREF) in the Cement, Lime and Magnesium Oxide Manufacturing Industries (CLM), version of May 2009, is now available to the public on the internet.

BUILDINGS & BUILDING MATERIALS EU and China discuss energy efficiency of buildings A formal exchange of views on the energy efficiency of buildings took place between the EU and China this month.

WASTE Commission Regulation on waste containg POPs enters into force Commission Regulation (EC) No 304/2009 amending Annexes IV and V to Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council was published in the EU’s Official Journal (OJ) in April and entered into force this month.

HEALTH AND SAFETY Council approves Commission chemical testing revision The European Commission has been given the green light to update how chemicals are tested to ensure they comply with REACH regulations.

HEALTH AND SAFETY Concern over ETUC's list of substances of very high concern The cement sector is concerned that the alternative list of substances of very high concern, released by the European Trade Union Congress (ETUC) in March 2009, will cause confusion and hinder the effective assessment of substances.

HEALTH AND SAFETY Chemical Business Association calls for ECHA funding review Funding levels for the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) need to be urgently reviewed, says the Chemical Business Association (CBA).