Eurobrief November 2010

EDITORIAL The ECF Manifesto... and beyond November 2010 - On 17 November, the European Construction Forum (ECF), of which CEMBUREAU is a founding member, launched its Manifesto “Building Prosperity for the Future of Europe” in the European Parliament, in the presence of representatives of the other European Institutions.

EDITORIAL CEMBUREAU quarterly economic report, 3rd quarter 2010: decline in EU construction and cement activity after some signs of recovery After the positive results registered during several months in 2010, EU construction and cement activity shrank in the 3rd quarter, despite signs of an overall EU economic recovery.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Auctioning regulation formally adopted by Commission On 12 November 2010, the European Commission formally adopted the Regulation on the timing, administration and other aspects of auctioning of greenhouse gas emission allowances pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and the Council establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowances trading within the EU.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME CCS demonstration projects to receive allowances from the new entrants' reserve On 3 November 2010, the European Commission adopted a Decision setting aside 300 million allowances from the New Entrants’ Reserve (NER 300) for projects concerning the demonstration of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and innovative renewable energy technologies (RES).

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Commission draft regulation bans JI/CDM credits from projects involving the destruction of HFC-23 and N2O in EU ETS On 25 November 2010, the European Commission adopted a draft Commission Regulation that would ban the use of JI/CDM credits from projects involving the destruction of hydrofluorocarbon 23 (HFC-23) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from adipic acid production in the EU ETS as of 1 January 2013.

ENVIRONMENT Council adopts Industrial Emissions Directive (Recast IPPC) Following its adoption as an A item by the COREPER on 5 November 2010, the Justice and Home Affairs Council approved on 8 November the revised directive on industrial emissions

ENVIRONMENT Global biodiversity protection deal reached in Nagoya A legally binding protocol governing the protection of biodiversity for the years 2011 to 2020 has been agreed by negotiators in Nagoya, Japan. A target for 17% of terrestrial areas to be covered by protected zones was agreed upon, lower than the 20% championed by the EU.

ENVIRONMENT New 2020 energy strategy adopted by Commission On 10 November the European Commission adopted the Communication entitled “Energy 2020 - A strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy”.

ENVIRONMENT Commission to propose Directive on Energy Efficiency and Savings in 2011 In relation to the European Commission Communication entitled “Energy 2020 - A strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy” (see previous article), the Commission intends to present a proposal for Directive on Energy Efficiency and Savings.

ENVIRONMENT Energy Committee calls for binding energy savings targets for 2020 On 9 November Members of the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee adopted the Draft Report for a Parliamentary own-initiative report on the revision of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan.

BUILDINGS & BUILDING MATERIALS Construction Products Regulation: Stihler report adopted in IMCO On 22 November 2010, the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) in the European Parliament adopted the report by Catherine Stihler (Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, UK), on the proposed replacement of the Construction Products Directive (CPD) 89/106/EEC by a Regulation (CPR).

OTHER NEWS European Commission sets 2011 priorities The European Commission has adopted its 2011 Work Programme. It incorporates the five main political priorities set out by President Barroso before the European Parliament in September of this year.

OTHER NEWS European Commission adopts regulation on rules of origin On 18 November 2010 the European Commission adopted a regulation revising rules of origin for products imported under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP).