First meeting of the High Level Expert Group on energy-intensive industries

The first meeting of the High Level Group (HLG) on energy-intensive industries will take place today. Discussions will focus on the reform of the Energy Trading System (ETS). Other topics, such as Energy Union, innovation or trade will follow.

The HLG has been set up to support the European Commission as it seeks to tackle the challenges that EU energy-intensive industries are facing due to high energy prices and ambitious EU energy and climate policies. The Group also seeks to support sustainable growth within the sector. It was established in April 2015 and is chaired by the Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Elżbieta Bieńkowska.

The HLG is intended to provide advice and expertise to the European Commission, and serve as a European platform for dialogue on topics of common interest to the participants, who represent EU countries, industry, civil society as well as the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

It will discuss the most urgent issues that energy-intensive industries are facing, in particular those relating to upcoming EU initiatives, such as implementation of the Energy Union, the reform of trade policy, circular economy and the climate policy framework 2030.

The creation of the Group is in line with the October 2014 conclusions of the European Council in which the Commission was requested to have a regular dialogue with stakeholders. Since most of the issues facing energy-intensive industries are common to all of them, the opportunity to engage in a discussion on policy options in advance will ensure a better involvement of stakeholders in the process. It will also allow the Commission to have a clearer view of the challenges and the concerns of all stakeholders on issues of crucial importance.