Document jnngY3LMkB2GevqRwm35gpmZ

Ce: Subject: crm ENV) 'SADAUSKAS Kestutis (ENV); (ENV); RIBOKAS Arunas (CAB-SINKEVICIUS); [| (ENV) Meeting of Commissioner Sinkevicius with Business Europe - 23rd March + EE omen Arunas RIBOKAS (Cab Sinkevicius) Objectives of the meeting: 1.0n the impact of theRussian invasionof Ukraine, Business Europe's (BE) one Russian member company had been suspended. A A BE members have mostly pulled out quickly from Russia, often for reputational reasons. BE + Disruption of value chains will be difficult. ne re 2.0 the daft Sustainable Products Initiative Mr. Beyrer noted that: Bis overall positive. They support the productgroup approach. They want the possibility of self-regulatory measures. But they are sceptical of mandatory 3rd party conformity assessment as this will drive up costs and lead times. SPI should be based on self-assessmaenndt market surveillance authorities. BE regards mandatory public procurement criteria as necessary, buttheyare not convinced of the need for targets. They emphasize the need to limit administrative costs. The Digital Product Passport is welcome, but needs targeting to what isneeded for circular economy. IP and trade secrets need protection `The Commissioner responded that: = Ecodesign has proven highly effective. Product group impact assessments will take cost/beannedfaidmtisn costs into account The approach will reward those that make an effort. itis hard to change the habits of public procurers, soamandatory approach is needed. The approach taken still needs to be clarified. MSshould follow latest practices. Some have it in their national legislation, some don't 3.0 the Industrial Emissions Directive Mr. Beyrer noted that: IED has been effective in the past, but BE is sceptical about the need for revision. They understand the objective to give incentives on GHG, but are opposed to mandatory. requirements. IED's value is the integrated approach. + Thereisa isk of double regulation and legal uncertainty, plants would be pushed to do tradeoffs (eg: between NOX/SOX &CO). Transformation plans should not be at plant level, but at group level. Emerging techniques should be dealt with through regulatory sandboxes etc. We shouldn't force them into new permits. You cannot request companies to do this for technologies that only exist on paper. BE understands that NGOs would be givean bigger role in permitting.They are concerned that this will make permitting procedures more burdensome. `The Commissioner responded that: The proposal will include effectiveness measures to reduce pollution and improve public information in the permitting process. This should be harmonised, and burdens reduced through IT solutions. Digitalsation should streamline the processes. There should be an EU wide level playing field for operators. + IEDshould become forward-looking to promote innovation and industrial transformation. An Innovation Centre for Industrial Transformation & Emissions is considered to develop BAT and BREFs. + The revision will ensure consistency with climate, energy and CE policies, and to reduce dpiorlelcuttiivoens.aTndhehaizntaerndtoiuosn sisubtostiannccleusd.eWgiegawfaacnttortioesavaonidd othtihserbedienvgeldoopnmeentthsr.ough several + MS still go far sometimes, and even blame the Commission (although they have some. flexibilities under the directives). On the REACH Revision BE will prepare a submission to the public consultation. Essential uses should only regulate harmful substances without puttinag brake on innovation; therefore it shouldbetargeted, and focus on proven risk. 23% March 2022 Contacts wwwbusinesseuroepue