The promotion of economic instruments for a green economy in the EU

Transcription

1 The promotion of economic instruments for a green economy in the EU EESC Hearing Creating the right incentives for the green economy Financial and Economic Instruments in Europe 29 October 2013, Brussels Manfred Rosenstock DG Environment, European Commission The views expressed in this presentation are those of the author and may not in any circumstances be regarded as stating an official position of the European Commission

2 Initiatives towards a green economy Need to adapt our economic structures to increasing resource scarcity ( green growth, eco-efficient economy ) is key point in Europe 2020 strategy Flagship Initiative: Resource-efficient Europe and Roadmap to a resource-efficient Europe o Emphasise need to use efficient instruments to ensure correct price signals. Economic instruments, but often policy mix required. o Call for intensified use of environmental taxes by Member States and removal of environmentally-harmful subsidies. Context of crisis: MBI generate revenues can contribute to fiscal consolidation.

3 EU frameworks on the use of marketbased instruments Rules to ensure external impacts are priced. COM proposal for review of energy tax directive: Change in tax base, closure of loopholes, coherence with ETS State aid modernisation exercise: Review of Environmental State aid guidelines Adjustments to EU Emission Trading System Financing mechanisms to support private investment in resource efficiency

4 Share of environmental taxes in total taxes EU-15/EU Energy taxes 4,2 5,4 4,9 4,6 Transport taxes (excl. fuel) 1,4 1,4 1,4 1,3 Pollution taxes 0,2 0,2 0,2 0,3 Environmental taxes 5,8 7,0 6,5 6,2 Source: Eurostat, 2013 Limited and declining weight of environmental taxes in EU, stabilisation since 2008.

5 Environmental taxes in % of all taxes, 2010 Large differences between MS in use of environmental taxes. Recommendations within European Semester

6 Directive on energy products taxation general approach Not a Community tax but framework of rules to restructure and harmonise national tax systems (Directive 2003/96/EC). Includes almost all energy products and electricity; each with minimum rates. Not a CO 2 tax but some incentives to reduce CO 2 emissions through higher prices of energy products Tax reductions for renewable energy, combined heat and power plants (CHP), biofuels Possibility of reduced rates for energy-intensive firms.

7 Review of energy products tax directive Commission proposal (2011): Two components - CO 2 -Emissions outside ETS, energy content, both with minimum rates Transitional regime with stepwise increase and harmonisation Contributing better to reaching climate policy targets CO 2 -component complements price signal of EU ETS Incentive to use renewable energy Support to energy efficiency Abolition of existing distortions/tax subsidies between various energy products: Motor fuels, heating fuels Council negotiations ongoing

8 Environmental taxation transport, pollution, resources Transport: Most MS use annual circulation and/or registration taxes. Commission proposal from 2005: introduce CO 2 element in circulation taxes. Large variations in use of green taxes on pollution and resources between MS. Water Framework Directive: MS to ensure cost recovery in line with polluter-pays principle; Blueprint Packaging Waste: Targets - Directive refers to economic instruments to ensure reaching its objectives. Waste policy review 2014, European Semester recommendations/analysis

9 Environmentally-harmful subsidies EHS reform supports 2 policy priorities of Europe 2020: resource efficiency and budgetary consolidation. Resource-efficiency roadmap specifies issue and asks for plans to phase EHS out Link to international commitments, e.g. G-20 Challenge of identification and quantification, assessment of harmfulness Social/competitiveness issues Need for transitional measures Focus on concrete subsidies fossil-fuel subsidies as first step.

10 Environmental State aid guidelines Commission assesses state aid, i.a. on the basis of Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection. Smaller aid cases fall under Block Exemption Regulation. Current review of guidelines widens scope to energy measures - closely linked to climate-related measures. Support to RES: Reaching targets, incentives for more efficiency through market. Technology neutrality vs. support for less mature technologies. Cross-border infrastructure link to RES Continue with scope for tax exemptions. 9

11 Need for private investments in resource efficiency Transition to a more resource efficient economy will require significant investments, not only in "green" sector but also for mainstreaming sustainability into the economy Importance of private capital for that transition, but due to economic crisis, less financing from banks available Also number of barriers: insufficient inclusion of external costs in prices; risk; complexity and lack of information; shorttermism. Various initiatives by Commission and MS. Dialogue with the financial sector: the Resource Efficiency Finance Roundtable 10

12 Thank you!