Sulphur Directive
- Position of the Finnish Government
Seminar in the European Parliament 18 October 2011
State Secretary Janne Metsämäki
Ministry of Employment and the Economy
[email protected]
Sulphur Directive- Position of the Finnish Government
Government programme
• Securing the prerequisites of maritime transport
• The reduction of emissions from sea transport important
and will promote the development of and market access to
clean technologies.
• Prevent environmental and climate requirements on sea
transport from placing unreasonable burdens on Finnish
businesses and leading to an unequal competitive situation
within the EU and in relation to non-EU operators.
• The implementation and scheduling of any IMO and EU
decisions will be ensured in a manner safeguarding the
competitiveness of the Finnish exports industry.
Sulphur Directive- Position of the Finnish Government
• The Commission proposal to amend the Sulphur
Directive benefits health and air quality, especially in
coastal areas
• Finland’s geographical location is exceptional and
transport distances very long.
• Our industry is highly dependent on maritime export
• Cost impacts of the new regulations would be severe
since over 80% of Finnish trade comes via sea
Sulphur Directive- Position of the Finnish
Government
• New requirements tighter (0,1 %, globally 3,5 % and
0,5 %) and applied earlier (2015, globally 2020 or
2025) in Baltic Sea
• Finnish industries affected by the directive
• 220 000 employees/ 10 % of Finnish employees
• Forest industry
• Mining
• Metall industry
• Chemical industry
• Shipping industry
Sulphur Directive- Position of the Finnish
Government
• Economic and employment impacts would be severe to
Finland
• Extra costs equal to 9000 – 20 000 jobs
• Some new jobs to environmental technology
• Negative effects on the competitiveness and employment
• EU 2020 strategy sets ambitious targets for employment
rate (75 %)
• Worthwhile to look into the possible benefits of having the
same sulphur rules for all EU
• We need all the options to alleviate the burden for the
industry and reduce the negative effects
Sulphur Directive- Position of the Finnish Government
• “Toolbox” of measures under preparation in the
Commission will help the Member States to follow the
new regulations.
 Crucial that state aid could also be used for this
purpose
• Change to alternative technology cannot be achieved
very quickly.
looking into the possibilities for an extension of the
implementation period
THANK YOU