The European Alliance of Energy-Intensive Industries (AEII) has warned against certain political measures that will add to the cost burden of the
European Union's economic base, in the face of recent plant closures, restructuring and lay-offs throughout the whole value chain of European
manufacturing industry.
The AEII has urged the European Commission (EC) to abandon its plans to amend the Emission Trading System (ETS) in a way that will increase energy costs for private and industrial consumers in Europe.
Considering the economic recession the European industry has been dealing with for four years and the record high unemployment of 10.4 percent, the EC's proposals to artificially increase the carbon price in the EU ETS will further undermine the competitiveness of the European industry, the AEII stated.
The AEII further underlined that investments are much needed to reinvigorate industrial production and reestablish growth.