Greek authorities need to act fast in the coming months if industrial producers are to keep receiving CO2 emission-right cost offsetting support as of January 1, 2021 through a European Commission mechanism.

The European Commission has just announced new state aid directives concerning greenhouse gas emissions beyond 2021. EU member states will need to soon forward their offsetting mechanism plans to Brussels.

Certain revisions have been made. Copper has been added to the list of industrial sectors eligible for emission cost offsetting mechanisms, while the textile and fertilizer sectors have not been included.

Besides copper, the steel, aluminium and paper production sectors have also been included on the list.

The European Commission aims to counter non-EU competition, including Chinese, and prevent industry shifts to locations outside the EU.