Françoise Grossetête MEP, Rapporteur for the EPP Group on 'An industrial policy for the Globalised Era', welcomed the unanimous adoption of the Report today, in the Industry, Research and Energy Committee of the European Parliament.

This Report bridges some of the loopholes contained in the European Commission's Communication of November 2010. Members of the Committee voted in favour of the principle of reciprocity in trade exchanges between the European Union and third countries. They also adopted one of Françoise Grossetête's amendments on the possibility to set up a carbon inclusion mechanism at the EU borders, in compliance with WTO rules. "Such a mechanism would put third-country products, exported to the EU, on an equal footing with European products which are subject to strict environmental rules", Françoise Grossetête underlined.

"Many European industrial sectors are exposed to carbon leakages towards third-countries as a result of the rules on the European Greenhouse gas emission trading scheme which has been created to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The carbon inclusion mechanism could be a tool to prevent some industrial sectors from relocating outside of the European Union", Mrs Grossetête concluded.

For further information:
Françoise GROSSETÊTE MEP, Tel: +32-2-2847952
Marion Jeanne, EPP Group Press & Communications Service, Tel: +32-479-840293

Note to Editors:
The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 265 Members.