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  • Push for refiners’ ‘fitness check’ to include FQD

    Nine EU member states with large oil refining sectors have asked the Commission to take into account upcoming regulations when assessing the impact of EU policies on the refining industry.

    The nine countries – which include Germany, Italy and the UK – want the Commission to assess the impacts of the Fuel Quality Directive and the Industrial Emissions Directive as part of a ‘fitness check’ that began last year. The fitness check was ordered by the energy commissioner Günther Oettinger to look at the costs and benefits of existing legislation on oil refiners, and is due to be ready by the end of 2014.
     
    Implementing rules for the Fuel Quality Directive have yet to be proposed by the Commission after a three-year delay. Italy’s government wants no decision to be taken on the two directives until the fitness check has been completed. 
     
    The nine countries are Austria, Finland, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland and United Kingdom.