Our Policy and Advocacy Team has started 2025 with a busy schedule. In the last weeks, we’ve held four in-person meetings with representatives from the European Commission and engaged with 12 officials from DG CLIMA and DG ENV, as well as two meetings with EU Parliament officials. These meetings are part of our ongoing efforts to increase recognition and affirm the credibility of CCU solutions while ensuring a supportive and consistent policy framework on behalf of our members.
OUR POLICY ACTIONS IN BRIEF:
🔵 On 15 January, we had a positive discussion with Alexandre Paquot, Director of Directorate C at DG CLIMA, and colleagues from Dir. B and C, focusing on the role of CCU technologies in achieving climate neutrality in Europe. We explored the potential of future initiatives such as the Clean Industrial Deal (CID) and the revision of the EU ETS to support these technologies. During the meeting, we emphasised the need for greater regulatory certainty, incentives (such as demand-pull mechanisms for CCU products), and funding instruments to help kick-start the market and drive the transition to a low-carbon economy.
🔵 On 17 January, we held an extensive meeting with Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea, Director of Directorate B at DG ENV, and Werner Bosmans to discuss CCU technologies. The discussion covered their defossilisation potential and the specific challenges and opportunities for CCU chemicals (e.g., sustainable plastics, packaging, medicine, cosmetics) in reducing the chemical sector’s emissions. We also examined the legal precedent set by CCU fuels, such as e-fuels (RFNBOs and RCFs), through legislations like ReFuelEU Aviation and the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), and advocated for replicating progressive mandates for chemicals or specific product groups (cosmetics, detergents, packaging, etc.).
🔵 On 21 and 23 January, we held meetings with policy officers from DG ENV and DG CLIMA across various units, focusing on specific legislations such as the Monitoring & Reporting Regulation, ETS, and rules on Environment Footprint. With DG ENV, we discussed the potential to develop a biogenic CO₂ certification scheme to support its reuse in applications like fuels, chemicals, storage, and mineralisation. Our meeting with DG CLIMA, together with our member SkyNRG, centred on the newly adopted accounting rules under ETS for captured CO2, resulting in productive and insightful exchanges.
🔵 On 20 and 22 January, we also met with EU Parliament representatives to discuss the role of CCU technologies in the coming years, highlighting their potential as a key lever for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
It’s great to see EU officials eager to meet, listen, and share their perspectives on how CCU technologies and our members will contribute to achieving the EU’s climate targets. We remain committed to advancing these crucial conversations and driving meaningful progress throughout the year, in particular with the publication of the Clean Industrial Deal expected end February.
