Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-02-23-Speech-3-363"
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"en.20050223.21.3-363"2
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substitute; Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America (2004-09-15--2007-03-13)3
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"Mr President, we must act to prevent the recurrence of any such cases. We have an obligation to do that. The steel industry is an important sector for us: it accounts for a fifth of all global manufacturing. We need it; it is a major source of employment.
Competition is driving us into a tough situation that can only have an effect on job numbers, unless we intervene. We cannot, however, start to compete with the Chinese on pay. We have to maintain high standards in goods, working conditions, and pay as well.
In addition to international competition, the European steel sector has to meet tighter environmental standards with the advent of emissions trading in the Union and the coming into force of the Kyoto Protocol. The steel industry is the largest of all the energy-consuming industrial sectors and one of the most significant causes of carbon dioxide emissions. It should therefore cut its greenhouse gases either by investing in new technology or by purchasing emissions rights.
I would like to mention that in my country the steel industry invested heavily in environmental technology years ago. We have been able to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as far as is possible with current know-how. The steel industry in my country is indeed one of the cleanest in the world. Under the Kyoto Protocol, however, a steel industry that years ago invested resources to become one of the cleanest has to buy emissions rights from dirtier industries such as Russia’s. So those that did not bother about the environment in earlier times are selling emissions rights to those who have cleaned up their industry. The cleaner industries are therefore paying for the dirtier ones. Timely investment in the environment reduces the competitiveness of the most modern and cleanest factory. The one that works better is worse in terms of its competitiveness.
Commissioner Spidla, how do you intend to act to prevent cleaner industries from having to reward dirtier ones in the context of emissions trading? Europe needs its own steel sector: it lies at the heart of our basic manufacturing, and we have to remain self-sufficient. Commissioner, could the Commission look into the possibility of somehow easing the situation in this sector of industry while keeping within WTO rules? The Commission should also draw up a fundamental strategy for those vital sectors of industry in which our self-sufficiency is important. Could we engage in more research and product development to improve this sector’s competitiveness? At the same time, it is obviously essential that our trading partners, starting with the United States of America, should join the Kyoto Protocol."@en1
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