CEMBUREAU responds to Commission consultation on EU 2020 Strategy

CEMBUREAU has responded to a Commission public consultation on the EU 2020 Strategy. The consultation paper sets out a vision for how EU 2020 will help consolidate economic recovery and prevent crises in future. In its response, CEMBUREAU focused on investing in infrastructure, renewing Europe’s building stock, alternative fuels & raw materials, the substitution of clinker with alternative constituents and sustainable construction.

CEMBUREAU said that the European Commission should consider how encouraging the construction of infrastructure (such as transport infrastructure) can improve the competitiveness of Europe, and suggested that national financial support should be increased to maintain investment in research and innovation. Additional steps should also be taken to encourage the development of energy efficient structures through closer cooperation with industry.

The response also encouraged the EU to introduce mechanisms to increase the rate of renewal of Europe’s building stock. CEMBRUEAU said that the construction of new, energy efficient buildings and the refurbishment of existing buildings will lead to energy savings and CO₂ emission reductions. This can be achieved by, for example, making low or zero carbon buildings financially attractive through substantial financial incentives for new collective forms of housing which prove more energy efficient than individual housing (funded through, for example, the revenues generated by the Emission Trading Scheme and, where applicable, national carbon taxes).

CEMBUREAU also emphasised in its response that co-processing waste in cement plant presents the cement industry with a solid opportunity to reduce global CO₂ emissions. Without co-processing, wrote CEMBUREAU, the waste and by-products which make up these materials would have to be incinerated or landfilled with corresponding greenhouse gas emissions. Alternative raw materials should also be encouraged. Alternative raw materials can be used to replace the traditional raw materials extracted from quarries, such as clay, shale and limestone, which are used in the kiln. CEMBUREAU’s response also highlighted the fact that the substitution of clinker in cement is an example of the positive contribution the European cement industry can make to resource management. Finally, CEMBUREAU highlighted in its response to the Commission the work done in relation to sustainable construction.

The deadline for responses to the consultation was 15 January 2010. The Commission intends to make a detailed proposal to the Spring European Council.

The full consultation document can be found here:

http://ec.europa.eu/eu2020/pdf/eu2020_en.pdf