Europe Strengthens Investments in Low-Emission Steel – Success for the Saarland Industrial Location
The key points for the reform of the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) presented on Friday mark an industrial policy shift that the FDP has long demanded. Emissions trading remains Europe's central market-based climate protection instrument and at the same time becomes an investment engine for the modernization of industry.
FDP state chairwoman Angelika Hießerich-Peter stated: “Emissions trading is successful when it not only prices CO₂ but also promotes investments. That is precisely the decisive progress of this reform.”
The FDP Saar particularly welcomes that free emission certificates will in future be linked to specific investments in decarbonization. Companies that invest early and modernize their production sites in Europe will gain planning security. It is especially important that companies relocating investments to non-European countries must return the corresponding certificates. FDP Saar sees this as a clear commitment to the European industrial location.
For Saarland, it is crucial that private investments finally move to the center of European industrial policy. Of great importance is the protection of trust for pioneers. Those, like Saarstahl and Dillinger, who have already invested many millions must not be penalized compared to the hesitant. Those who have invested in green steel must not be punished by Europe. Equally important is that energy-intensive SMEs also need the same planning security and electricity prices as large industry.
The FDP points out that essential elements of the reform correspond to the proposals that liberal representatives have developed together with European industry in recent months.
Hießerich-Peter emphasizes: “This development is of great importance, especially for Saarland with its energy-intensive industry. Europe shows that climate protection and industrial competitiveness are not opposites. Now it is crucial to design the new instruments so that they are practical. Especially for companies like the Saarland steel industry, which are investing billions in their transformation, it must be ensured that in future the free certificates granted are also bankable. Only if these certificates can be recognized by banks as reliable collateral will they facilitate financing of the industrial transformation. There is still specific need for action here. I therefore expect the state government to work together with the federal government to close this financing gap. Those who want to enable private billion-euro investments in climate-neutral industry must also create the appropriate financing instruments.”
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