Metalcasting Facilities Likely To Receive Free Allowances in EU Emissions Trading System

Released November 6, 2009

On Nov. 4 a group of lawmakers in the European Parliament's Environment Committee failed to block a European Commission proposal that would give most of the European Union's heavy manufacturing industry–including iron and aluminum metalcasting facilities–special protection (i.e. free allowances to meet the emissions cap) in case of carbon leakage.

The Committee voted 19-39 against a resolution put forward by the group, which had said the Commission's proposal was too generous to industry and could undermine the European Union's Emission Trading System (ETS). Under the European Union's regulatory procedure, the list of sectors vulnerable to carbon leakage will be adopted after Dec. 23 unless further objections are raised.

For more information, contact Alicia Oman, Metalcasting Alliance for Government Affairs Washington Office, at 202/842-4864 or ao@wafed.com.