Resource Efficiency: latest developments in Parliament & Council

On 25 January 2012, the Industry, Trade and Research Committee (ITRE) of the European Parliament voted on Kent Johansson’s (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Sweden) draft opinion on a Resource Efficient Europe. One issue of concern to the European cement industry is the proposal to shift taxation away from labour towards resource consumption. As indicated in the September 2011 Eurobrief Editorial, the European Commission insists that the tax neutrality would be observed. However, this would not be the case for industries, such as the cement industry, which make an intensive use of mineral resources but are characterised by a low labour intensity. CEMBUREAU will continue to monitor developments in this field. In Johansson’s opinion, it is stated that “in many sectors a tax on mineral resources is not an adequate fiscal tool for increasing resource efficiency” and that “indirect taxation or the removal of existing subsidies are not appropriate tools for increasing resource efficiency.”

On 19 December 2011, the Environment Council adopted council conclusions on the Roadmap to a resource-efficient Europe. In order to stimulate resource efficiency, the Council highlights the need to establish proper conditions, both in the form of regulatory as well as market based instruments. In addition, it calls on the Commission to work together with the Member States and relevant stakeholders in order to develop a proposal for an appropriate set of resource efficiency indicators by 2013. The Council also notes that “further development and application of methods to assess environmental impacts over the full life-cycle of products and processes, including consumption based emissions” is required. Addressing the short-term transitional side-effects and emerging implications of the shift to a resource-efficient economy with all stakeholders is also underlined.

On 18 January 2012, the European Commission published on its website a study on the ‘Economic Analysis of Resource Efficiency Policies’. This study, produced by COWI, and which dates back to August 2011, provides details on “existing policies that have successfully optimised the use of resources and estimates their current net benefits to the EU”.

More information:

September 2011 Eurobrief Editorial

Kent Johansson’s Opinion

Draft Council conclusions

COWI study