Consultation on future Guidelines for State aid in the context of EU ETS launched

The European Commission has invited Member States, citizens, companies and organisations to contribute to a consultation on future Commission Guidelines for State aid in the context of the amended EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Contributions are particularly sought from environmental-related organisations, industry associations subject to the EU ETSⁱ, associations, national and regional authorities.

The consultation, which opened on 11 March 2011, will stay open until 11 May 2011.

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Council and Parliament not opposed to draft benchmarks governing free allocations

The Council has decided not to oppose to the Draft Commission Decision determining transitional Union-wide rules for the harmonised free allocation of emission allowances in the EU Emissions Trading System from 2013. This means that now that the Council has given its consent, the Commission may adopt the act. From 2013, free allocation of emission allowances in the ETSⁱ will be determined by these benchmarks.

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Commission starts work on CO2 emissions from ships

The first meeting of the European Climate Change Programme Working Group 6 (Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships) was recently held. The overall objective of the group is to provide input to the Commission in its work to develop and assess options for the inclusion of international maritime transport in the EU's greenhouse gas reduction commitment.

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Commission announces number of allowances for aviation under EU ETS

The number of allowances to be given to aviation each year under the emissions trading scheme (ETSⁱ) will be 212.9 million for 2012 and 208.5 million for 2013-20, according to the Commission. Percentage caps for 2012 and 2013-20 had already been set at 97% and 95% respectively, but the total number of allowances available each year depended on emissions during the sector's 2004-06 baseline period. Some 82% percent of the annual cap will be distributed free to airlines and 15% auctioned.

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EU's attempts further unilateral reduction of CO2 emissions

Last month’s Eurobrief editorial was devoted to why Europe’s Energy intensive industries believe setting CO₂ targets to 2050 is unrealistic. The European Commission’s communication on this issue has now been published and looks at an overall CO₂ reduction of 80% in 2050 in the EU.

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More national EU ETS registries resume operations

The national emissions registry of Denmark resumed operations on 4 April following completion by the Commission of its review of the adequacy of the country’s national registry security measures. The resumption comes after Denmark was able to give reasonable assurances that the minimum security requirements are in place. Greece and Latvia resumed operations on 30 March 2011, while earlier this month, the national emissions registries of Czech Republic, Italy, Finland, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden also resumed normal operations.

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ETS registries: Security first, liquidity second

Several serious incidents have marred the operation of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETSⁱ) and led, in January, the European Commission to suspend trading. Trading under the EU ETS must be made more secure and CEMBUREAU is making recommendations in that respect.

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EDITORIAL ETS registries: Security first, liquidity second March 2011 - Several serious incidents have marred the operation of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and led, in January, the European Commission to suspend trading. Trading under the EU ETS must be made more secure and CEMBUREAU is making recommendations in that respect.

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BUILDINGS & BUILDING MATERIALS EESC advertising launch of common language terminology for sustainable construction event CEMBUREAU, through the European Concrete Platform (ECP), is co-organising the launch of a new, multilingual, dictionary-type publication - the Sustainable Construction Glossary – which will be held at the European Economic and Social Committee on 11 April 2011.

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EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME More national EU ETS registries resume operations The national emissions registry of Denmark resumed operations on 4 April following completion by the Commission of its review of the adequacy of the country’s national registry security measures.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY REACH - ECHA deadline for completeness check on REACH registrations met Registration numbers have been granted for 20,175 of the 20,723 dossiers submitted by the first registration deadline, resulting in a total of 3 483 phase-in substances being registered under REACH.

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EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME EU's attempts further unilateral reduction of CO2 emissions Last month’s Eurobrief editorial was devoted to why Europe’s Energy intensive industries believe setting CO2 targets to 2050 is unrealistic. The European Commission’s communication on this issue has now been published and looks at an overall CO2 reduction of 80% in 2050 in the EU.

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WASTE Council approves first end-of-waste criteria The first end-of-waste criteria under the Waste Framework Directive, the End-of-waste criteria for scrap metal, were approved by the Member States on 31 March 2011, after the European Parliament raised no objections.

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EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Commission announces number of allowances for aviation under EU ETS The number of allowances to be given to aviation each year under the emissions trading scheme (ETS) will be 212.9 million for 2012 and 208.5 million for 2013-20, according to the Commission.

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WASTE Draft European Parliament report on effective raw materials strategy for Europe published A Draft report on an effective raw materials strategy for Europe was released earlier this month by Rappoteur Reinhard Bütikofer (Germany, Greens).

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EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Commission starts work on CO2 emissions from ships The first meeting of the European Climate Change Programme Working Group 6 (Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships) was recently held.

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EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Council and Parliament not opposed to draft benchmarks governing free allocations The Council has decided not to oppose to the Draft Commission Decision determining transitional Union-wide rules for the harmonised free allocation of emission allowances in the EU Emissions Trading System from 2013. This means that now that the Council has given its consent

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EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Consultation on future Guidelines for State aid in the context of EU ETS launched The European Commission has invited Member States, citizens, companies and organisations to contribute to a consultation on future Commission Guidelines for State aid in the context of the amended EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

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EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME More than 150 CCS demonstration project proposals submitted More than 150 proposals for large-scale demonstration projects involving innovative renewable energy and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies have been submitted under the EU's "NER 300" programme.

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ENVIRONMENT Commission presents Energy Efficiency Action Plan The Commission adopted the Energy Efficiency Action Plan on 8 March 2011 to coincide with the publication of the upcoming Low Carbon Economy Roadmap for 2050, and presented the Action Plan to Council Preparatory Bodies on 15 March 2011.

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ENVIRONMENT Council adopts conclusions on Energy 2020 On 28 February, the Council adopted conclusions on Energy 2020: A strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy.

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ENVIRONMENT Commission confirms adoption date of biodiversity Post-2010 strategy The Commission has confirmed that the Biodiversity Post-2010 strategy is expected to be adopted on 4 May 2011. The Strategy will be presented as a Communication and will propose a new EU Strategy to coordinate Member State efforts to halt biodiversity decline in the EU.

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ENVIRONMENT Natura 2000 translations available Some of the translations of the Non-energy mineral extraction and Natura 2000 guidance document are now available on the European Commission website.

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ENVIRONMENT EBAE to include Business & Biodiversity award from 2012 A new 'Business & Biodiversity' award will be presented to a European company with outstanding achievements in halting biodiversity loss and supporting natural ecosystems at the 2012 edition of the European Business Awards for the Environment.

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ENVIRONMENT Commission launches public consultation on Green Public Procurement The Commission has published a Green Paper with a consultation on Public Procurement. The purpose of the exercise is to simplify procedures and open public procurements to all economic actors, including SMEs, add green requirements and tackle corruption.

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ENVIRONMENT Quarter of EU energy consumption through renewable energy by 2020 says study A new review of National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs) suggests that almost a quarter of EU energy consumption could be met by renewable energy by 2020.

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BUILDINGS & BUILDING MATERIALS Commission targets public buildings in Energy Efficiency Proposal The European Commission has proposed that public authorities refurbish at least 3% of their buildings by floor area every year. The European energy efficiency plan sets out a range of measures designed to encourage energy efficiency improvements.

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Join us to learn more about the importance of mineral raw materials!

The next edition of the biennial European Minerals Day, organised by the industrial minerals, aggregates and cement sectors, will be held during the weekend of 13-15 May 2011.
Various activities will take place at quarry and extraction sites across Europe to highlight the absolute importance of minerals industries to all stakeholders. A European Launch Event will again take place at a quarry site on the eve of the European Minerals Day.

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Health & Safety - Commission adopts proposal for review of Seveso II Directive

On 21 December 2010, the European Commission adopted a proposal for the review of the Seveso II Directive, the EU legislation on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances. The content of the proposal is current being assessed by experts from several CEMBUREAU Working Groups and the Secretariat. If adopted, the new Seveso directive would enter into force as of 1 June 2015.

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