By Martin Banks - 21st February 2008
Europe’s business leaders say the EU’s climate change policies need to be “better reconciled” with its goals on growth and employment.
They insist that European industry should not be “unduly” affected by EU plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020.
The demand comes in a letter timed to coincide with the start on Thursday of the two-day European business summit which, this year, is focusing on climate change and energy issues.
The letter was sent by Ernest-Antoine Seilliere, president of BUSINESSEUROPE, the Brussels-based organisation partly organising the high-profile debate.
It has been sent to Slovenian economy minister Andrej Vizjak, chairman of the EU competitiveness council.
It says, “BUSINESSEUROPE supports the decision to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but it is crucial that European industry is not affected by unduly large direct and indirect cost increases due to climate and renewable energy policy.
“The question of which sectors are particularly exposed to the risk of carbon leakage should be tackled in good time before 2010.
“Also, much more emphasis should be placed on energy efficiency and energy-saving technologies to reach CO2 emission reduction targets.”
BUSINESSEUROPE will tell the summit, which has attracted business and political leaders from across the continent, that the world economy is facing “major” uncertainties.
“For the time being there is no reason to be overly pessimistic for Europe but it will need to release its untapped economic potential to keep growing at a sustained pace in coming years,” says Seilliere.
“The competitiveness council has a major role to play, particularly to ensure that an ambitious Lisbon agenda produces concrete results.”
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