Minimum Import Price and Duties on Solar Modules and Cells
European Parliament Calls for their Conclusion.
Today MEPs representing all major Political Groups in the European Parliament called on the European Commission to end the Minimum Import Price (MIP), anti- dumping and anti-subsidy duties on solar panels and modules from China. The group included MEPs from the European People’s Party (EPP), the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), the Alliance for Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), the Greens/EFA Group, and the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) group.
MEP Christofer Fjellner, who organised the letter, stated “Free trade and the environment go hand in hand. With the EU’s very ambitious climate targets, EU trade policy should do everything it can to help reach those goals. But by restricting free trade and imposing a high minimum import price on solar panels, we are making it more difficult for ordinary citizens and businesses to do their part in reducing carbon emissions. That’s why I hope the Commission will keep its promise to abolish anti-dumping duties and the minimum import price in December.”
In the letter the MEPs explain that the MIP and associated duties are contributing to the slowdown of the European solar sector and call on the European Commission to end the MIP in December this year, as planned, to boost the whole European solar sector. They argue that removing the MIP and duties will contribute to the level of solar jobs and installations in Europe rising again. Since 2012 the rate of installation and associated jobs have declined sharply.
James Watson, CEO of SolarPower Europe, commented ‘This unprecedented letter from all the main groups in the European Parliament demonstrates the political support that exists for ending the MIP in December, as planned. We welcome the initiative of MEP Christofer Fjellner and all his colleagues from all the different Groups in the European Parliament, and call on the European Commission to recognise and act on the concerns raised in the MEPs letter.
This MEP letter follows just two weeks after 21 national solar associations and organisations, representing over 80% of the value of solar in Europe, called for the end of the MIP. It is clear that the MIP should now be brought to an end for the benefit of the entire European solar sector.’
