IFIEC Europe is concerned about the stringency of the Commission Decision on the cross-sectoral correction factor (CSCF) which hampers competitiveness of energy-intensive industries in Europe. Therefore, IFIEC has a high interest in the CSCF legal case at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). The CJEU held its Oral Hearing on 3 September 2015 and subsequently the Advocate General provided an Opinion on 12 November 2015. The Court’s Judgement will follow in due course. The Opinion is non-binding to the Court.
Public Affairs
We are writing as the Alliance of Energy Intensive Industries to ask you to ensure that there is a multi-disciplinary engagement from policy-makers on this dossier, addressing both environmental and competitiveness issues.
In line with the October 2014 European Council Conclusions1, Carbon leakage prevention needs to be the first element of the ETS revision. It should be based on technically and economically achievable benchmarks, on actual production, and addressing both direct and indirect carbon costs. The most efficient European installations must be guaranteed access to enough free allowances in order to operate and even grow at no net carbon cost.
Brussels 15 July 2015: Energy intensive industries are voicing concern about their capacity to remain competitive and attract investment in Europe following the publication of the Commission’s proposal for the reform of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). We call on EU policy makers to ensure that the post-2020 carbon leakage provisions fully offset direct and indirect costs at the level of best performers with no cross sectoral correction factor.

COP 21 marks a decisive milestone to Combat Global Warming effectively. Manufacturing industry offers its support for any productive measures, provided that there is a policy framework in place that ensures a level playing field between industries from all major countries, and cost-effective policies that enable the development of the needed technological innovations.