Following today’s vote in the European Parliament, the European non- ferrous metals industry welcomes the vote against the proposal to backload carbon allowances.

Rather than focusing on "quick fixes", Eurometaux advocates concrete long-term solutions for the re-design of the EU ETS. “Long-term structural measures for the period after 2020 should include measures to adequately protect Europe’s industrial competitiveness on a global scale” stresses Oliver Bell, President of Eurometaux “In our view, the lack of predictability regarding the future EU climate policies and the missing link with the EU objectives in terms of reindustrialisation are major obstacles for our industries, making the necessary investments. The retention of the industry in Europe offers the biggest potential in emission reductions while safeguarding skills and employment.”

According to the Eurometaux President, "Climate protection and industrial competitiveness cannot be viewed separately. They work together. For this reason, climate and industrial policies must go hand in hand."

"The ETS is functioning as it should. It will deliver the objective for which it was introduced: reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the lowest possible cost. The ETS does not need to be rescued, but the economy does, and today’s vote proved a very important and responsible call from European Parliament to the Commission and the Member States ", Bell concludes.

Eurometaux is the Brussels-based EU association of the non-ferrous metals industry, representing the main EU and international metals producers, EU and international metal commodity groups and national metal federations. The industry covers base metals (Al, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, Sn), precious metals (Au, Ag, PGM´s) and technical metals (e.g. Co, W, Cr, Mo, Mn), manufactured from both virgin and recycled raw materials.

For further information, please contact:
Guy THIRAN
Director-General EUROMETAUX – European Association of Metals
E-mail : thiran@eurometaux.be
Jernej Vernik
Energy and Climate Change Mamager, EUROMETAUX – European Association of Metals
E-mail : vernik@eurometaux.be