Answer given by Mr Vella on behalf of the Commission

29.8.2016

Large Combustion Plants (LCP) represent one of the largest sources of air pollutants emissions in the EU. The directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions (IED) plays an important role in reducing air pollution. The IED provides for a regular update of the Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for Large Combustion Plants (LCP BREF) and the adoption of BAT Conclusions (BATC) in the form of a Commission Implementing Decision. The enhanced role given by the IED to BAT reference documents (BREFs) was a core issue already addressed in the Commission's impact assessment of the IED itself[1].

The final draft of the LCP BREF has been issued in June 2016 and the next step is a formal consultation on BATC in the multi-stakeholder IED Forum scheduled in October 2016, followed by an IED Committee vote by early 2017.

The LCP BREF has been drafted through the ‘Sevilla process’, which was designed specifically for BREF reviews. This unique process of drawing up BREFs is in line with the Commission's Better Regulation agenda, ensuring that the best available evidence is reviewed in an open, transparent manner, involving the full spectrum of stakeholders (industry concerned, environmental NGOs and Member States), to ensure that the objectives are achieved at minimum cost. This includes extensive exchange of technical and economic information and registering stakeholders' comments. Therefore, the nature of the Sevilla process makes an Impact Assessment superfluous.

The Commission works to continually improve its understanding of emission reduction potential and the costs of applying the BAT Conclusions adopted under the IED.

• [1] http://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/air/stationary/ippc/pdf/recast/ia_en.pdf