IED revision will unnecessarily make industrial operations more complex

Today, the European Commission proposed to revise the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). This directive is one of the main instruments to regulate industrial activities and related emissions from around 52,000 industrial installations (current scope).

The IED aims at achieving a high level of protection of human health and the environment, through the application of an integrated approach on emissions, based on Best Available Techniques (BATs).

The current IED framework is fit to enable the transformation the European industry is undergoing in line with the Green Deal ambition. BusinessEurope has strong concerns about the proposed revision, which comes amidst very difficult economic times and risks breaking a system that works and delivers.

BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer said: "The current geopolitical situation underlines the importance for the EU to take good care of its economy and there is no space for business-as-usual scenarios. The proposal to revise the IED is a key example which does not reflect this reality.

It comes at the wrong moment and will inevitably make industrial activities more complex at a time when we need the opposite. We need to work towards simplifying and fast-tracking procedures to authorise investment projects in the EU.

The IED proposal also expands on topics which are largely covered and are better addressed by other legislative proposals. Hence, by revising the current IED framework, European industry will face extra periods of uncertainty.

The EU cannot afford further delays in permits, limiting industrial transformation, increasing administrative costs and adding regulatory uncertainties. We therefore regret the European Commission’s decision to put such a proposal forward. EU co-legislators should now rework this proposal substantially and BusinessEurope stands ready to support this process."