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WirtschaftsVereinigung Metalle

WVMetalle

WirtschaftsVereinigung Metalle represents the economic interests of Germany's non-ferrous metals industry on trade, environment, energy, tax, research and transport policy.

Lobbying Activity

German metal industry demands taxonomy criteria reflecting industrial reality

5 Dec 2025
Topic — The European Commission is reviewing technical criteria for the EU Taxonomy environmental act.
Message — WVMetalle requests criteria reflecting best available technologies and real industrial conditions. They propose removing restrictive language regarding substance use to recognize strategic metal activities. They also advocate including complex metallurgical recycling processes for critical raw materials.123
Why — This would improve legal certainty and reduce bureaucratic burdens for strategic metal producers.45
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German metal industry urges easier waste transport and no quotas

5 Nov 2025
Topic — The Circular Economy Act aims to improve EU resource security and competitiveness.
Message — The industry rejects mandatory recycling quotas, preferring improved scrap metal collection. They request simplified intra-EU waste shipment procedures and state-funded stockpiling.123
Why — Simplified transport rules would reduce bureaucratic costs and keep strategic resources within Europe.45
Impact — Manufacturers face competitive disadvantages if quotas drive secondary raw material prices to exorbitant levels.6
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German metals industry urges new EU trade defense measures

16 Aug 2025
Topic — Consultation on measures addressing global steel overcapacity's negative trade impacts on the EU.
Message — The association demands a robust Tariff Rate Quota system covering all origins and products. They require a "melted and poured" rule to prevent the circumvention of trade measures.12
Why — Stronger protection would secure the long-term economic viability of domestic green metal production.34
Impact — Trade partners and developing countries would lose their current exemptions from EU import restrictions.5
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WVMetalle urges less red tape in critical raw material recovery

25 Jul 2025
Topic — This regulation lists products and waste streams with high potential for recycling critical minerals.
Message — WVMetalle requests the EU avoid new reporting duties to prevent over-burdening companies. They also call for easier waste shipment rules across borders to support specialized recycling facilities.12
Why — Easier cross-border logistics would allow metals companies to scale up specialized recycling operations.34
Impact — National environmental regulators would lose oversight data due to reduced reporting requirements.5
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Meeting with Jens Geier (Member of the European Parliament)

20 Mar 2025 · Exchange on the Steel and Metals Action Plan

Response to Delegated act on primarily used components under the Net-Zero Industry Act

20 Feb 2025

WVMetalle welcomes the possibility to give further feedback on the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), which entered into force in June 2024. We fully support the NZIA´s goal to improve the functioning of the internal market by establishing a framework in order to ensure the Unions access to a secure and sustainable supply of net-zero technologies. This includes scaling up the manufacturing capacity of net-zero technologies and their supply chains to safeguard their resilience. However as mentioned in our previous contribution (2023-06-27 WVMetalle Contribution NZIA), we see a gap, to fully recognize the role of the non-ferrous metal industry as a producer of materials nec-essary for the manufacturing of the strategic net-zero technologies. We therefore welcome the chance to again raise these concerns in the consultation of the Draft Delegated Act on primarily used compo-nents [Ref. Ares (2025)528655 -23/01/2025], which as stipulated in the NZIA (Regulation (EU) 2024/1735) empowers the European Commission to draft a delegated act to amend the Annex, which lists the final products and specific components that are considered to be primarily used for the pro-duction of net-zero technologies and the Draft Implementing Act list of net-zero technology final products and their main specific components (resilience criterion) [Ref. Ares (2025)545490 - 23/01/2025]. Please consider this paper as our position to both consultations.
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Meeting with Alexandra Geese (Member of the European Parliament) and TRIMET Aluminium SE and

21 Jan 2025 · Critical Raw Materials

Meeting with Peter Liese (Member of the European Parliament)

13 Jan 2025 · Climate Policy

Meeting with Andrea Wechsler (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Nov 2024 · EU Industry and Employment Policy

Meeting with Alexandra Geese (Member of the European Parliament) and EVONIK INDUSTRIES AG and Bundesverband Glasindustrie e.V.

30 Oct 2024 · Standortbesuch, Clean Industrial Deal

Meeting with Jens Geier (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Oct 2024 · Exchange on Expectations on the new European Parliament and EU Commission (EU Industry Policy, Green Deal, Energy Policy)

WVMetalle warns battery rules devalue green energy investments

28 May 2024
Topic — The EU is defining how to calculate the lifecycle carbon footprint of electric vehicle batteries.
Message — The organization proposes using energy attribute certificates and the residual energy mix to reflect genuine reductions in emissions. They argue the current draft causes double counting and makes investments like Power Purchase Agreements worthless. This revision is necessary to ensure fair competition and support the internal energy market.123
Why — Companies in carbon-heavy regions avoid competitive disadvantages by claiming lower footprints through private contracts.45
Impact — Low-carbon countries lose their inherent competitive advantage for attracting new battery production investments.6
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Meeting with Jens Gieseke (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

30 Jan 2024 · Umweltpolitik

Meeting with Thomas Rudner (Member of the European Parliament)

4 Dec 2023 · EU-Energie- und Klimapolitik und ihre Auswirkungen auf den industriellen Mittelstand

Meeting with Hildegard Bentele (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Verband Deutscher Metallhändler und Recycler e.V.

8 Nov 2023 · CRMA

German metal industry warns against double regulation in soil law

1 Nov 2023
Topic — The EU is proposing a new law to monitor, manage, and restore soil health.
Message — WVMetalle urges the EU to avoid double regulation by prioritizing existing industrial rules. They oppose publishing company monitoring data and demand a risk-based approach for contamination.123
Why — Keeping data private protects companies from increased legal risks and litigation from NGOs.45
Impact — Environmental NGOs lose the ability to easily monitor contamination and pursue legal action.6
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Response to Adjusting size criteria for inflation in the Accounting Directive to define micro, small and medium-sized enterprises

6 Oct 2023

WVMetalle would like to comment on the European Commissions proposal to amend the thresholds in the Accounting Directive (2013/34/EU) to adjust the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) size criteria to inflation. The aim of increasing the parameters is to relieve SMEs from many EU financial and sustainability reporting provisions applicable to larger companies. This follows the announcement of the European Commission to reduce the regulatory burden for SMEs by 25% and the SME relief package. We welcome this proposal to streamline reporting obligations and reduce administrative burden. However, a broader adjustment of the SME definition is needed by considering the staff headcount, the second pillar of the SME definition, defined in the EU Commission recommendation 2003/361. We want to reiterate the following points/demands: Amending the Accounting Directive (2013/34EU) to adjust the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) size criteria to inflation as an overdue first step. Decouple the criteria of staff headcount and turnover/balance sheet total if feasible. Revision of the SME definition, defined in the EU recommendation 2003/361: a) Increase the staff headcount criteria to at least <250, ideally < 500 personnel. b) Increase financial thresholds (Turnover of <150 million instead of current <50 million). For further information, please find attached our position.
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Meeting with Jens Geier (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Sept 2023 · Exchange on Net Zero Industry Act (staff level)

Meeting with Matthias Ecke (Member of the European Parliament) and Freiberger Compound Materials GmbH

21 Jul 2023 · Kennenlern / Industrie- und Rohstoffpolitik

German metal industry urges stricter CBAM reporting and enforcement

11 Jul 2023
Topic — This consultation covers reporting rules during the carbon border adjustment mechanism's transitional period.
Message — The organization demands the removal of all derogations to ensure importers face the same strict monitoring as European producers. They call for mandatory data checks and higher penalties starting from the first day of the transition. Furthermore, they request access to anonymized data to help identify potential circumvention practices.123
Why — Strict rules prevent non-EU competitors from gaining an unfair advantage through loose reporting standards.45
Impact — Non-EU exporters lose the flexibility to use local monitoring systems or avoid penalties.67
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Response to European Critical Raw Materials Act

30 Jun 2023

Positionen zum CRMA Die Metalle Aluminium, Indium und Borate müssen auf die Liste der strategischen Rohstoffe. Kohärenz zwischen den Politikfeldern Energiepolitik ist hier zwingend mit einzubeziehen.
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German metal industry urges inclusion in Net Zero Act

27 Jun 2023
Topic — The EU is consulting on a regulation to boost green technology manufacturing.
Message — The group demands that non-ferrous metals and recycling be included in the regulation. They also call for better financing and alignment with chemical laws.123
Why — Inclusion would allow metal companies to access faster permitting and crucial public financing.4
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Meeting with Hildegard Bentele (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

20 Jun 2023 · CRMA - Interview at the occasion of "metals meets politics" evening

Meeting with Jens Geier (Member of the European Parliament) and European Association of Mining Industries, Metal Ores & Industrial Minerals and TRIMET Aluminium SE

10 May 2023 · Exchange on the Critical Raw Materials Act

Meeting with Svenja Hahn (Member of the European Parliament) and TRIMET Aluminium SE

10 May 2023 · Exchange on Critical Raw Material Act

Meeting with Henrike Hahn (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and ERAMET and TRIMET Aluminium SE

10 May 2023 · Critical Raw Materials Act

Meeting with Matthias Ecke (Member of the European Parliament)

10 May 2023 · Meinungsaustausch zur Industrie- und Energiepolitik

German Metal Industry Demands Recognition for Permanently Recyclable Materials

21 Apr 2023
Topic — EU initiative to update regulations on packaging design and waste management.
Message — The association requests a legal definition for infinitely recyclable 'permanent materials'. They seek to exempt aluminum coffee capsules from compostability mandates. They also argue that English should be accepted for all technical documentation.123
Why — This would protect the market position of aluminum cans and reduce compliance costs.4
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Meeting with Jens Geier (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Apr 2023 · Exchange on the electricity market design (staff level)

Meeting with Jens Geier (Member of the European Parliament)

23 Mar 2023 · Exchange on Critical Raw Materials Act (Staff Level)

German metal industry warns against stricter EU water standards

14 Mar 2023
Topic — Revision of EU regulations on chemical pollutants in surface and groundwaters.
Message — WVMetalle rejects the use of delegated acts for setting thresholds and calls for reforming the "One-out-all-out" principle. They also demand an impact assessment before reclassifying river-specific pollutants into the chemical status category.123
Why — Relaxing these rules would provide greater operational leeway for industrial and economic activities.4
Impact — Environmental health suffers as weaker standards allow higher concentrations of industrial pollutants.5
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German metal industry demands risk-based wastewater cleaning expansion

14 Mar 2023
Topic — Revision of EU rules for treating and discharging urban and industrial wastewater.
Message — WVMetalle recommends that expanding wastewater treatment plants should depend on proven risks rather than plant size. They suggest leaving decisions to member states based on scientifically sound analyses and realistic risk assessments.12
Why — This strategy would help the metal industry avoid expensive and potentially unnecessary regulatory requirements.3
Impact — Environmental protection groups face delayed actions against pollutants due to stricter scientific proof requirements.4
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German metals industry urges moratorium on EU air quality rules

2 Mar 2023
Topic — The European Commission proposes updating air quality standards to meet health guidelines.
Message — The association demands a moratorium on the revision, arguing that new limit values should not apply before 2040. They also oppose new legal rights for damage compensation and NGO lawsuits.123
Why — This would avoid complicated approval processes and maintain legal certainty for industrial transformation projects.45
Impact — Environmental groups and citizens lose new legal rights to seek compensation for pollution-related health damage.67
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Meeting with Jens Geier (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Feb 2023 · Exchange on the energy crisis and competitiveness

Response to European Critical Raw Materials Act

24 Nov 2022

see Attachment
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German metal industry rejects higher fees for chemical agency

10 Oct 2022
Topic — Regulation to update the governance and funding of the European Chemicals Agency.
Message — WVMetalle demands that additional burdens and bureaucracy be avoided at all costs. They call for the correct implementation of the 'One Substance, One Assessment' concept. The association insists that ECHA's financing must remain a mix of fees and public funding.123
Why — This would protect metal companies from rising costs and new administrative requirements.4
Impact — The EU public budget would bear more costs to ensure the agency's sustainability.5
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Meeting with Jens Geier (Member of the European Parliament)

7 Sept 2022 · Fit For 55

Response to Interim evaluation of Horizon Europe

22 Jul 2022

General Remarks WVMetalle welcomes the EU Commission's proposal to set up Horizon Europe (HE), a framework programme with a substantial budget, to promote investments in R&D measures central to a successful twin transition. But unfortunately, not all industry sectors benefit to the same extent from the research and funding programmes. This is especially valid for SMEs, the primary industry, and energy-intensive companies, who noted a lack of accessibility to the programs. As an umbrella organisation, WVMetalle represents the common interests of producers, processors and foundries of light metals, non-ferrous metals, and rare metals, which are organised in sector associations. This accounts for more than 625 member companies and 105.000 employees. Given the non-ferrous industry's importance for attaining the Green Deal, e.g., the twin transition, we would like more recognition in the HE work programmes. Suggestions for improvement While HE can provide an essential contribution to attaining the different goals in HE, the entry barriers to receiving funding are too high, therefore missing the intended purpose. This is counterproductive; consequently, we propose suggestions to improve the programme's functioning and success rate while increasing the experience on the applicants' side. Here below our main suggestions specific targeting the reduction of the entry barriers for enterprises: 1. Reduction of international partners requirement: Having three international partners is not feasible in most cases, especially for SMEs. A higher involvement of different partners adds more complexity and challenges, which can hinder the implementation of projects. Furthermore, according to some experiences of our members, it is always necessary to plan with more partners as these can decide to exit the agreed upon plans at the last moment. Therefore, two partners should be enough to guarantee the project's success. 2. Increased duration of the work programmes: Instead of two years, the programmes should run for three years. This would ensure an adequate timeframe for the project implementation set out by the partners and make sure that it is achievable. 3. Timely Announcement of Call for application: Application periods are too short and last notice. Many enterprises willing to participate are excluded due to the short periods and the additional administrative burden. We would welcome an extended call for application, meaning at least half a year more time for enterprises to express their interest. This would be beneficial as more applicants would ensure a more competitive environment, where the best projects would receive funding, raising the quality of the projects. We see HE as an enabler for transforming the energy-intensive sector as it facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research & innovation in developing, supporting, and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges. However, we believe there is still room for improvement, as demonstrated by the low success rates of the predecessor programme, Horizon 2020. This could be seen as discouraging to enterprises as they question the validity and effectiveness of the programme. But, on the other hand, higher success rates would lead to higher participation rates and therefore accelerate a broader implementation of R&D opportunities, from which the whole EU can benefit. Final remarks WVMetalle supports the general goal of HE as it will contribute to creating jobs and promoting industrial competitiveness, optimising and incentivising investments. Furthermore, the open access to publications and open science principles applied throughout the programme will guarantee a fruitful exchange and help companies contribute to the five main missions in HE. We believe that with some tweaking in the application process, the entry barrier could be removed, allowing for a more competitive environment and, therefore, qualitative better spending of the HE funds.
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German metals industry demands CSDDD liability and scrap exemptions

23 May 2022
Topic — New EU rules aim to align corporate interests with sustainability and human rights.
Message — WVMetalle calls for clearer definitions and the exclusion of secondary raw materials. They also demand removing civil liability to maintain a risk-based approach.123
Why — This would protect companies from factually impossible traceability requirements and excessive administrative costs.45
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Response to Revision of the Energy Tax Directive

18 Nov 2021

Dear Sir or Madam, please find enclosed the WVMetalle positon on the draft revision of the Energy Tax Directive.
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Response to Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

18 Nov 2021

Please find attached the feedback of the Association of the German Non-Ferrous Metal Industry (WVMetalle) on the CBAM-proposal.
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German metal industry warns against tightening EU carbon trading rules

8 Nov 2021
Topic — Revision of EU Emissions Trading System to achieve 55% emission cuts by 2030.
Message — The organization requests maintaining free allowance allocation and current electricity price compensation. They oppose reducing free allowances for sectors covered by carbon border adjustment and reject tightening benchmark reduction rates beyond 1.6%.123
Why — This would shield them from rising carbon costs while competing globally as price-takers.45
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Response to Revision of EU legislation on registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals

1 Jun 2021

Schon heute hat die EU eine der strengsten Chemikaliengesetzgebungen weltweit. Eine weitere Verschärfung würde Unternehmen unverhältnismäßig belasten und die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit gefährden. Vielmehr sollte der Fokus auf einen einheitlichen und praxisorientierten Vollzug gelegt werden. Eine Abkehr vom Ansatz der risikobasierten Chemikalienregulierung lehnen wir ab. Die von der EU-Kommission genannten Optionen zur REACH-Revision bewerten wir wie folgt: Neue Registrierungs- und Informationsanforderungen müssen in der Praxis umsetzbar sein und dürfen nicht zu höheren Kosten für Unternehmen führen. Die Festlegung sollte einzelstoffbezogen auf Basis vorhandener Informationen und in Abhängigkeit von Stoffeigenschaften, Verwendung, Exposition und Stoffmenge erfolgen. Wenn überhaupt, sollte dies bei der CLP-Revision betrachtet werden. Die Festlegung eines generellen „Mixture-Assessment-Faktors“ (MAF) für alle Stoffe lehnen wir ab. Die Berücksichtigung möglicher Kombinationseffekte muss im Rahmen der Risikobewertung auf Basis von stoff- oder gruppenspezifischen Extrapolationsfaktoren erfolgen. Eine Vereinfachung der Kommunikation in der Lieferkette ist zu begrüßen, sofern die Maßnahmen richtig ausgestaltet sind und nicht zu weiterem Bürokratieaufwand führen. Der elektronische Austausch von SDB soll weiter vorangetrieben werden. Die Vorgaben für Dossier- und Stoffbewertungen sind heute schon sehr streng und für Unternehmen mit hohem Aufwand verbunden. Der risikobasierte und wissenschaftliche Ansatz muss auch bei der Straffung von Verfahren beibehalten werden. Eine Aberkennung von Registrierungsnummern sehen wir kritisch und sollte nur bei klaren Missbrauchsfällen eingesetzt werden. Das Zulassungsverfahren ist das strengste Beurteilungsverfahren und in Konsequenz mit schrittweisen Stoffverboten verbunden. Die Zulassung sollte nur als letzte Option und nach grundlegender risiko- und wissenschaftsbasierter Analyse der besten regulatorischen Maßnahme (RMOA) gewählt werden. Aufwand und Kosten der Zulassung sind für Unternehmen sehr hoch, für Kleinmengen sollten Erleichterungen geschaffen werden. Das Beschränkungsverfahren auf Basis des risikobasierten Ansatzes sollte beibehalten werden. Den gefahrenbasierten „generischen Ansatz“ lehnen wir ab, da damit Stoffverbote ausschließlich aus intrinsischen Eigenschaften abgeleitet werden. Ebenso müssen sichere Verwendung und gesellschaftlicher Nutzen, z.B. für die Klimapolitik oder Kreislaufwirtschaft, berücksichtigt werden. Das Konzept für "wesentliche Verwendungen" sehen wir kritisch. Der Umgang mit gefährlichen Stoffen wird schon heute über effektive Managementmaßnahmen, z.B. im Arbeitsschutz, reguliert. Eine Festlegung, was „nicht-wesentlich“ ist, kann nicht objektiv erfolgen. Beschränkungen dürfen nicht dazu führen, dass eine Produktionsverlagerung aus der EU in Drittändern mit niedrigen Umwelt- und Sozialstandards erfolgt. Das Beschränkungsverfahren von gefährlichen Stoffen für alle Anwendungen/Verwendungen muss aus unserer Sicht sicherstellen, dass o vorhandene REACH-Registrierungsdateien vollständig genutzt werden. o eine ordnungsgemäße RMOA durchgeführt wird, um die am besten geeignete Risikomanagementmaßnahme unter REACH oder anderen Regelungen, wie z.B. Arbeitsschutz- oder sektorspezifischen Rechtsvorschriften, zu bestimmen. o Risikomanagementmaßnahmen eine risikokontrollierte Verwendung über den gesamten Lebenszyklus von Stoffen gewährleisten. o bei Substitution eine Bewertung von Alternativen (AoA) unter Berücksichtigung wirtschaftlicher und technischer Machbarkeit durchgeführt wird. Ein einheitlicher Vollzug von REACH ist eine wichtige Voraussetzung, um gleiche Wettbewerbsbedingungen innerhalb der EU zu gewährleisten. Der Vollzug an den EU-Außengrenzen sollte einheitlich und konsequent durchgeführt werden. Hierfür sollten die an der Überwachung der Ein- und Ausfuhr beteiligten Zollbehörden ausreichend qualifiziert und personell ausgestattet werden.
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Meeting with Lucrezia Busa (Cabinet of Commissioner Didier Reynders)

7 Apr 2021 · Sustainable Corporate Governance

Meeting with Andrea Beltramello (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis), Caroline Boeshertz (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis) and

19 Mar 2021 · Due diligence

Response to Climate change mitigation and adaptation taxonomy

16 Dec 2020

Die WVMetalle bezieht Stellung zu den vorgeschlagenen Regelungen in Abschnitt 3.7. Darin will die EU-Kommission für die Primärproduktion von Aluminium einen Schwellenwert festlegen, der sich als Summe aus direkten und indirekten CO2-Emissionen zusammensetzt. Dieses Vorhaben trifft insbesondere die deutsche Aluminiumindustrie unverhältnismäßig hart. Zusammenfassend lässt sich aus unserer Sicht sagen, dass die vorgeschlagenen delegierten Rechtsakte nicht geeignet sind, die angestrebten Ziele und insbesondere Anreize für nachhaltigen Investitionen in der EU zu erreichen. Statt dem vorgeschlagenen Ansatz sollte die EU-Kommission den Wert der Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) von 8tCO2/t Al als technisches Kriterium wählen. Die ausführliche Position der WVMetalle entnehmen Sie der eingereichten Stellungnahme.
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Meeting with Axel Voss (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

1 Dec 2020 · Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence

German metal industry opposes tightening EU carbon market rules

26 Nov 2020
Topic — The European Commission is reviewing the Emissions Trading System to meet higher 2030 climate targets.
Message — The organization opposes increasing the annual carbon reduction rate and demands the abolition of the Market Stability Reserve. They strictly reject extending the carbon market to transport and buildings without guaranteed protection against industrial relocation.123
Why — This would prevent rising carbon costs and ensure planning security for energy-intensive metal producers.45
Impact — Global climate efforts suffer if industrial production shifts to regions with lower environmental standards.6
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Meeting with Geneviève Tuts (Cabinet of Commissioner Didier Reynders), Lucrezia Busa (Cabinet of Commissioner Didier Reynders)

8 Sept 2020 · Sustainable corporate governance

Response to Chemicals strategy for sustainability

19 Jun 2020

Schon heute werden von den Unternehmen der NE-Metallindustrie in Deutschland und der Europäischen Union die weltweit höchsten Standards im Arbeits- und Umweltschutz umgesetzt. Ein strategischer und nachhaltiger Ansatz zum Umgang mit Chemikalien, der auf dem Risikoprinzip auf-baut, Innovationen fördert und Bürokratie vermeidet sowie Recycling nicht erschwert, ist aus Sicht der WirtschaftsVereinigung Metalle (WVMetalle) zu begrüßen. Mehrbelastungen für die Industrie lehnen wir entschieden ab. Unsere wichtigsten Forderungen zu einer EU-Chemikalienstrategie lauten: 1. Eine echte nachhaltige Chemikalienpolitik: Ökonomische, soziale und ökologische Aspekte gleichrangig betrachten und Zielkonflikte, wie z.B. mit mehr Recycling und dem Ausbau der Elektromobilität, vermeiden. Ein pauschales Stoffverbot von Blei(Metall) würde beispielsweise nicht nur den Unternehmen in der EU wirtschaftlich schaden und Arbeitsplätze vernichten, sondern auch die Erreichung weiterer Nachhaltigkeitsziele, wie saubere Mobilität und mehr Recycling gefährden. 2. Umsetzung der vorhandenen Regulierungen statt Verschärfungen: Unternehmen benötigen ausreichende und langfristige Rechts- und Planungssicherheit, daher Verhältnismäßigkeit wahren und KMU im Blick behalten. Bei der Umsetzung geltender Regelungen sollte ein besonderer Fokus auf mehr und effektivere Importkontrolle von Produkten an den Grenzen des EU-Binnenmarktes gelegt werden. 3. Risiken angemessen managen statt pauschaler Verbote: Das Instrument der Risikomanagementoptionsanalyse (RMOA) in den EU-Mitgliedstatten verbindlich anwenden und nur tatsächlich auftretende Risiken regulieren. Die REACH-Verfahren Beschränkung und Zulassung sollten daher nur bei einem tatsächlichem Risiko Anwendung finden. 4. Schnittstelle mit Augenmaß: Kreislaufwirtschaft fördern statt durch chemikalienrechtliche Vorgaben erschweren. So muss bei Stoffeinstufungen das Recycling von vorne herein „mitgedacht“ werden. Eine Nachjustierung der chemikalienrechtlichen Bewertungsmethoden ist daher dringend erforderlich. Risikobezug, Verhältnismäßigkeit und Umsetzbarkeit in der Praxis müssen die Grundlage sein. RoHS reformieren aber als getrenntes Rechtsinstrument behalten. Ausführlichere Informationen zu unseren Forderungen sind dem Anhang zu entnehmen.
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Meeting with Camilla Bursi (Cabinet of Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius) and Wirtschaftskammer Österreich and ECFIA Representing the High Temperature Insulation Wool Industry

15 Jun 2020 · VC meeting with Cross-Industry Initiative (CII) to discuss the REACH/OSH interface and Improving the RMOA process – a tool for achieving the Chemical Strategy objectives

Response to Climate Law

1 May 2020

Anbei finden Sie die Konsultationsantwort der WirtschaftsVereinigung Metalle zum EU-Klimagesetz.
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Response to Revision of the Energy Tax Directive

1 Apr 2020

Feedback is in the enclosed document.
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Response to Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

31 Mar 2020

Please find attached the position of the German Non-Ferrous Metals Industry (WirtschaftsVereinigung Metalle) on Carbon border adjustment mechanisms.
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Response to Climate Law

5 Feb 2020

The Association of the German Non-Ferrous Metals Industry (WirtschaftsVereinigung Metalle) rejects the introduction of a European Climate Law. Please find attached our feedback on the evaluation roadmap that includes a detailed justification for our position.
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German metal industry urges stronger electricity price compensation

16 Jan 2019
Topic — Revision of EU rules for compensating companies for indirect carbon emission costs.
Message — WVMetalle wants to abolish declining compensation rates and allow states to cover 85% of indirect costs. They also reject tying aid to new energy efficiency requirements.12
Why — Higher subsidies would protect the competitiveness of energy-intensive companies against global rivals.3
Impact — Environmental groups lose out as companies avoid mandatory energy efficiency improvements.45
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German metals association urges revisions to carbon allowance rules

22 Nov 2018
Topic — Consultation on the draft regulation for free allocation rules under the EU ETS.
Message — WVMetalle requests heat benchmarks based on natural gas rather than biomass. They advocate using the median for production calculations to account for maintenance. Finally, they want heat transported in crucibles to be officially recognized.123
Why — This would prevent high costs and reduce the risk of companies leaving Europe.4
Impact — Forest-rich northern EU countries would lose a competitive advantage over southern member states.5
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Response to Carcinogens 3rd wave of amendments

29 May 2018

As a member of the Employers Interest Group of the Working Party Chemicals of the ACSH I would like to note that the ACSH position on Cadmium (which is the basis of the COM proposal for that substance) contain a dual approach. The dual approach was concluded in consensus within the WPC and it was not the intension nor accepted by WPC that only approach one could be chosen. This was concluded on the basis of the SCOEL statement from 2017: „Thus, implementation of both elements of the OEL- TWA and BLV- are of critical importance“. Having in mind what was concluded within the original Final Report on the impacts of cadmium BOELVs it is astonishing that the envisaged "significant negative impacts" at a level of 1 µg/m³ are neglected. Moreover the Commission proposal as well as the Impact Assessment focus exclusively on exposure through air inhalation and ignore exposure through ingestion which is in practice routinely and effectively controlled by biomonitoring.
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Response to Commission Delegated Regulation establishing the Innovation Fund

19 Jul 2017

The Innovation fund should focus on commercialisation of established ideas by awarding partial grants and / or de-risked loans depending on the maturity of the technology and the nature of innovation (break-through or incremental). The innovative ideas/projects can be grouped together as a part of a program. Both incremental innovation and break-through technologies need support from the innovation fund. Breakthroughs can be developed in the EU and implemented worldwide under right intellectual property protection. With financial support for development of pilot scale and demonstrator scale projects, such deployment of innovative ideas would be accelerated. The support should be granted to proven projects rather than research ideas. Priority should be to support an enlargement of value chains, increasing cross industry cooperation and horizontally applicable technologies (e.g. heat recovery (within the industrial sector or in the use of industrial heat in other sectors) or carbon capture and use). Additionally, sector specific technologies should be objective of the funds: • the increase of recycling, • the substitution of fossil fuels by renewable energies (e.g. industrial heat), • demand response for the electricity grid and • the increase of energy efficiency by the use of non-ferrous-metals and new materials/alloys (e.g. in the transport and energy sector). In addition support is recommended for innovation that result in services replacing or complementing products (e.g. leasing assets/materials). A certain amount of the innovation funds should be reserved for small-scale-projects and/or small or medium-sized enterprises. I. e. small and medium size companies should be able to apply for small projects/funds. Due to the large number of small and medium companies the impact of successful smaller projects which are implemented iteratively can have a high return on investment. Innovation fund should be accessible via a simple application procedure. • A standard template indicating the most crucial points that need to be addressed in order to increase success and receive the grant would be useful. • A multistage application is recommended because this will help to overcome resistance of newcomers to apply. Such a procedure will ensure that, in preparing the funding grant application, only limited efforts are spent by applicants, until more visibility is received about probable success for receiving grant. • The application timing would be continuous throughout the year. The funding should be granted with clear criteria (e.g. CO2 reduction, energy efficiency improvement or higher renewable energy utilisation) and a universal calculation method which is applied in judging the fulfilment of the criteria. Allowing financing of project milestones without a need to commercially deploy the developed solution will encourage industry to undertake the innovation even more.
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