MEP Marcin Sypniewski (ESN) has asked the European Commission to justify its proposed CO2 emission benchmark for coke production, warning that the target is technologically unattainable and could accelerate deindustrialisation of the European coke sector. In a parliamentary question submitted on 4 June 2026, Sypniewski raised concerns that the benchmark of 0.143 Mg CO2/t was calculated statistically without providing data on the reference installations, making it impossible for operators to identify and adopt the low-carbon techniques used by the top performers.
The question contains three concrete demands. First, Sypniewski asks whether the Commission will publish a list of the top 10% least carbon-intensive coke installations, including details on processes, raw materials, and technologies used. Second, he questions how the Commission reconciles imposing such benchmarks without updated BREF documents or BAT conclusions under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). Third, he asks whether the Commission plans to allocate 100% free emission allowances for coke production or include the sector in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to prevent deindustrialisation and import dependency.
The MEP argues that the sector receives insufficient free allowances while non-EU coke can circumvent CBAM, creating an uneven playing field. The question signals a push for either full free allocation or CBAM inclusion to protect European producers. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will indicate whether it is open to revising the benchmark or adjusting the regulatory framework for the coke sector.