This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Primer balance del Observatorio de la Competitividad de la Industria Papelera

Preliminary assessment of the Observatory of the competitiveness of the paper industry

17/07/2006

July 17, 2006

The Observatory of the competitiveness of the paper industry, made his presentation in a seminar held a few days at the headquarters of the economic and Social Council, with the balance of its first sixteen months of operation. So, in its first year of activity, the Observatory has paid particular attention to topics as the sectoral programme of prevention of occupational risks, development of cogeneration in the sector, the forthcoming entry into force of the IPPC directivethe National Plan of allocation of emissions of CO2, the analysis of the evolution of markets and the escalation of prices of natural gas.

The opening of the day was provided by Almudena Fontecha, President of the ETUC, who emphasized the importance of initiatives such as this to the competitive development of the paper industry. The meeting ended with a colloquium on the competitive challenges of the Spanish paper industry, involving Armando García-Mendoza, Secretary general of Aspapel; Joaquina Rodríguez, general Secretary of Sector role, A.G. and photography by FCT-CC.OO.; and Javier Hernándiz, Secretary of the chemical sector of FIA-UGT. Along with the supply of raw materials and the escalation of prices of natural gas and its grave consequences for the sector, one of the topics addressed at this Conference was the PNA and the CO2 emission tradingwhich is today a key area of management in the Spanish paper companies. The sector is at the forefront of technology to contribute to the fight against climate change in Spain through the use of renewable fuels, co-generation and energy efficiency, recycling of their products and sustainable forest management. The NAP 2008-2012, be implemented policies and measures, can help to recognize the potential contribution of the Spanish paper industry to comply with the Kyoto Protocol and further promote their eco-efficiency.