Industrial Emissions Directive

FuelsEurope supports the IED as the policy tool that regulate emissions from industrial sites to the air and water in particular and contribute to deliver continuing improvements in environmental performance. However, the new standards set by the Refining BREF will be extremely challenging and costly for the sector. Therefore, implementation must be carried out in a manner that does not unnecessarily impair the competitiveness of the EU refining sector.

Revised IED

In spring 2022, the European Commission published its proposal for a revision of the IED, which was adopted in spring 2024, entering into force 4th August 2024. The updated directive will help guide industrial investments necessary for Europe's transformation towards a zero-pollution, competitive, climate-neutral economy by 2050. The revision further aims to spur innovation, reward frontrunners, and help level the playing field on the EU market. The revision will help provide long-term investment certainty, with first new obligations on industry expected in the second half of the decade. Since the publication, FuelsEurope has published its position paper on the revision of the IED where we continue to support the three underlying principles of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) that should prevail:

  •  A permitting process which is based on BAT conclusions, resulting from thorough data collection practices, which enables the derivation of meaningful BAT-associated emissions levels;
  • An integrated approach aiming to protect the environment as a whole (e.g. addressing cross-media effects);
  • Consideration of the local environmental conditions and the technical characteristics of the installation(s) concerned.

FuelsEurope will continue to engage with the development of the secondary legislation as a result of the adopted directive, and the revision of the BREF Guidance as foreseen in the existing IED. In addition, it is key that the implementation of the revised IED is accompanied by a thorough impact assessment and active involvement of all sectors subject to the directive, ensuring the competitiveness of the EU is preserved.