– For a long time, companies that produce chemistry in Europe, including Poland, have been trying to infect the thought of helping the industry.
I think that this has been done and the European Commission, the European Parliament is taking the first step, says Newseria Dariusz Joński, associate of the European Parliament of the Civic Platform. – Almost 340 1000 people in the chemical manufacture work in Poland, that is almost 10% of GDP, or 400 billion PLN, immense money,
EC Action Plan to modernise and strengthen the competitiveness of the EU chemical industry
The European Commission has presented an action plan to modernise and strengthen the competitiveness of the EU chemical industry. The plan is intended to address the major challenges facing the chemical sector in Europe, including advanced energy prices and unfair competition in abroad markets. The EC besides wants to advance investment in innovation, the ESG, and to simplify EU chemicals legislation.
As emphasised by the Polish Chamber of Chemical manufacture (PIPC), this sector is of peculiar importance to guarantee Europe's resilience to crises. Its position so requires corrective action, peculiarly in the context of China's increasing share of global chemical production. present it amounts to around 44%, while the EU share fell from 27 to 13%.
Energy prices must go down
– In chemistry production, the most crucial are energy prices that gotta go down. Otherwise, Chinese chemistry will replace us. Let me remind you, it was 20 years ago that Europe gave the speech and was 3 times stronger than China, and present China is 4 times stronger than Europe, so this is the minute erstwhile we request to help. All chemical companies in Poland have released the Manifesto of Polish Chemistry, where they call on the European Commission to act decisively, on the 1 hand to defend our market, on the another hand, precisely to lower energy prices," says Dariusz Joński. "In general, in the world, the 1 with cheaper energy will be competitive and investment will be placed there, so Europe has no time to waste.
The European Commission presented its action plan in early July this year. It refers to both advanced energy costs, unfair competition in the planet and decreasing demand, while promoting investment in innovation and sustainable development. The EC, together with the associate States and industry, will prepare a list of critical production facilities requiring political support and will address commercial issues. It besides announced the application of trade defence measures to guarantee fair competition while extending monitoring of chemicals imports into Europe. The EC intends to implement an action plan for affordable energy, which will encourage the usage of clean coal sources specified as carbon capture, biomass and waste, as well as the promotion of renewable energy sources.
European Chemicals manufacture Action Plan is simply a step in the right direction
In the opinion of representatives of the Polish chemical industry, the European Chemicals manufacture Action Plan is simply a step in the right direction, which partially corresponds to the demands of the sector. However, its success will depend on the detailed solutions developed during the work on the fresh plan, e.g. rules on access to support mechanisms for manufacture or on criteria for identifying chemicals and molecules of strategical importance.
The plan is accompanied by a proposal for a simplification package to reduce the costs and administrative burden for the sector. As announced, they are expected to save more than €360 million per year.
We are facing a serious debate on the ETS, especially ETS2
– We as a state are known for our chemical manufacture – it is very strong in Poland, so we are active here and present is the first step to simplify procedures to aid this manufacture so that we can decision forward. But we inactive have a serious debate on the ETS, especially the ETS2, explains the Euro MP.
In July, PIPC besides made requests for improvement of the EU ETS and its adaptation to fresh economical realities. As stressed by the Union industry, the chemical manufacture besides faces a number of barriers that hinder the accomplishment of the CO2 emanation simplification targets, including, inter alia, the deficiency of the required infrastructure, especially in the areas of electricity, gas/hydrogen, transport and retention of CO2 or resource management (including waste and secondary natural materials). Therefore, the Chamber observes that the implementation of the adopted emanation simplification trajectory can lead to the alleged carbon leakage, namely the relocation of production outside the European Union, and an increase in global emissions from imports outside the EU. The PIPC so calls for strong protection mechanisms to be established and maintained against carbon leakage, in peculiar by ensuring an adequate level of free allowances and extending the strategy of compensation for indirect costs.
