EU: metal and mining union federations mobilize to save metal industries

Immediate State aid. The EMF and EMCEF want to use the European Commission looking at the compliance between European law and electricity prices in Germany and Italy to launch a debate at European level. Indeed, these two countries compensate electricity costs for their energy-intensive industries, and such compensation should only be possible as of 2013. State subsidies will be allowed since the introduction of the new European system of exchange of CO2 emission quotas should have a sizeable impact on electricity prices. However, the EMF and EMCEF want national governments to be able to step in now to help the steel and non-ferrous metals industries, sectors that are already fragile and particularly weakened by increased energy prices. “It’s a question of survival” explained Marc de Wilde, leader of ACV-CSC METEA Belgium.
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wed since the introduction of the new European system of exchange of CO2 emission quotas should have a sizeable impact on electricity prices. However, the EMF and EMCEF want national governments to be able to step in now to help the steel and non-ferrous metals industries, sectors that are already fragile and particularly weakened by increased energy prices. “It’s a question of survival” explained Marc de Wilde, leader of ACV-CSC METEA Belgium.


High increase in electricity prices. “Electricity p

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