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CERAME-UNIE BUREAU DE LIAISON
DES INDUSTRIES CERAMIQUES EUROPEENNES LIAISON OFFICE OF THE EUROPEAN CERAMIC
INDUSTRY |
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PRESS RELEASE
European ceramics
& glass industries urge EU authorities
to improve framework
for competitiveness
“The European ceramics
and glass industries are energy-intensive, and they have to sell their products
on markets that are increasingly open to international competition. Increased
outsourcing to third countries like
This is what Mr. Dieter SCHÄFER, member of the
Board of Cérame-Unie, and President of the European Tile Manufacturers’
Federation, said at the Conference “From 2007 on: the principal challenges
facing the European glass & ceramics industries”, that was organised on 16th
May
The two European Industries employ together
around 400.000 persons, and they have a total turnover of around € 60 billion.
Both industries have seen a dramatic erosion of their competitive position in
recent years, which was expressed in a reduction of their external trade
surplus. In the case of ceramics this surplus was reduced from € 5 billion in
2003 to € 3.5 billion in 2006.
The ceramics & glass industries point at
the combination of excessively high European energy price levels; very ambitious
EU environment standards; and a too lenient EU trade policy as an important reason
for the loss of international competitiveness.
At the 16th May conference
Cérame-Unie and CPIV presented a 10 point action plan for an EU sectoral policy
on glass and ceramics (attached),
that should address the main shortcomings.
Main elements of the plan are the need to
create a global level playing field by ‘exporting’ EU policies on emissions
trading (ETS), REACH and IPPC (pollution control); the liberalisation of the EU
gas markets; the adaptation of ETS by using benchmarking, and allowing for ‘ex-post’
allocation of emission rights; the postponement of the IPPC review till
sufficient experience is obtained on the implementation of the present
Directive; and the wish to benchmark (social) housing policies at EU level.
Cérame-Unie and CPIV very much welcomed the
European Commission’s initiative to organise this conference, that was attended
by officials of several Directorates-General of the Commission, Members of the
European Parliament, including the EP ceramics forum Chairman
For more information:
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CERAME-UNIE BUREAU DE LIAISON
DES INDUSTRIES CERAMIQUES EUROPEENNES LIAISON OFFICE OF THE EUROPEAN CERAMIC
INDUSTRY |
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Action Plan EU 16 May
conference
- Create global ‘level playing field’ by ‘exporting’ regulations on
ETS, REACH, IPPC and CPD, assorted with ‘inducive trade policy measures’
for importers from ‘unwilling’ competing countries.
- Improve market access by speeding up actions against
tariff/non-tariff trade barriers, on the basis of reciprocity.
- Speed up WTO Doha Round on industrial products
- Develop package with improved protection of industrial property;
origin marking for tableware & tiles, and trade defence mechanism for
EU producers (not traders or consumers) in
- Liberalise EU gas and electricity markets through ‘unbundling’
- Use harmonised benchmarking for EU ETS, with recognition of sector
diversity, and take into account unforeseeable production growth through
‘ex-post’ allocation. Reduce costs involved and accept voluntary
commitments as alternative to ETS participation. Facilitate energy saving
glass & ceramics products through CO2 credits or reduced VAT
- Accept under REACH that glass & ceramic products are inert
articles produced through mineralogical process. Glass to be included in
annex IV/V of the REACH regulation
- Gain experience with IPPC implementation, and 2006 ceramics BREF
(based on existing definition for ceramics), till 2012, before
finalising IPPC review. IPPC-associated limit values should not become
emission limits
- Sustainability should not be reduced to environmental aspects in
CEN (TC 350) discussions; longevity aspect has to be taken into account
- Benchmarking of EU (social) housing policies should be stimulated
at Council of Ministers level.