In reference to our earlier annoucements the second Call for proposals of the Joint Undertaking for fuel cells and hydrogen (JU FCH) is expected to come out the second week of July. Please check the latest updates at the JTI website.
The Environment Council on June 25, 2009 agreeed to more flexibiliy for Member States in implementing the IPPC Directive. According to Directive proposal put forward by the Commission in 2007 52,000 industrial operators will need to obtain permits from national authorities to release pollutants into the air, soil or water. The Commission originally proposed to tighten emissions limit values by forcing plants to adopt Best Available Techniques (BATs) by 2016. Environment ministers agreed to a Czech proposal to apply current BATs to new combustion plants earlier than envisaged by the Commission, within two years after the entry into force of the directive. For existing plants, the deadline was set to 2016, with a transition period. The Czech presidency had also suggested giving national authorities until the end of 2019 to define “transitional national plans” for reducing emissions of NOx, SO2 and dust, with a gradual decline in annual national ceilings. However a group of Member States led by the UK, Poland, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania, ministers decided to extend this flexibility by another year – until the end of 2020 – in order to give member states more flexibility. The Council also set a 96% rate of desulphurisation of fossil fuels for LCPs [...]
A public consultation on rules to govern the future auctioning of emission allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) has been launched by consultants working for the European Commission. The consultation forms part of the Commission’s preparation of a Regulation on auctioning of allowances with respect to the third and later trading periods. In accordance with the revision of the Emissions Trading Directive agreed as part of the EU climate and energy package in December last year, the Commission has to adopt a Regulation by 30 June 2010 to ensure that auctioning is conducted in an open, transparent, harmonised and non-discriminatory manner.From 2013 at least half of the allowances under the EU ETS will be auctioned instead of being allocated to businesses free of charge. A smooth introduction of auctioning is therefore of crucial importance for the continued efficient functioning of the EU ETS and for protecting confidence in the market for emission allowances.The consultation covers all aspects of auctioning that may be relevant for the future Regulation. It seeks views notably on the timing, size and frequency of auctions, auction design and regulatory aspects relating to issues such as pre-registration of participants, collateral, payment and delivery, information [...]
The European Commission has published an online consultation to seek input on the review of the Action Plan for Energy Efficiency (EEAP). EU Heads of States and Governments have endorsed an ambitious European Energy policy which seeks to enable the European Union to reduce greenhouse gases by at least 20 %, to reduce energy consumption by 20 % and increase to 20 % the share of renewable energies in energy consumption by 2020. The EEAP of 2006 was prepared and adopted with a view to intensify the process of realising the substantial cost-effective energy savings potential and the above-mentioned target on energy consumption reduction. The Plan’s running time is until 2012. A major mid-term review to evaluate its effectiveness and results was scheduled to take place in 2009. This internet consultation will support this evaluation and revision. It aims to collect views from interested parties on the effectiveness and results of the Action Plan so far, and on how best the EU may identify and initiate improved policy actions and measures which contribute to a maximum extent to the EU’s energy saving targets. The consultation will be open till August 3, 2009.