2016年是歐洲在許多層面發(fā)生變化的一年。對煤炭行業(yè)而言，隨著對煤炭的政治思考在行業(yè)內(nèi)外產(chǎn)生影響，變化呈現(xiàn)出更大的姿態(tài)。然而，隨著變化，出現(xiàn)了一些熟悉的反復(fù)。煤炭行業(yè)仍在歐盟能源結(jié)構(gòu)中占有一席之地，為歐盟提供了約四分之一的電力。2016年，歐盟共開采褐煤或褐煤3.71億噸，硬煤產(chǎn)量8700萬噸，進(jìn)口煤炭1.67億噸。煤炭仍然是歐盟的重要產(chǎn)業(yè)。EURACOAL市場委員會的目的是提供關(guān)于歐洲硬煤和褐煤的生產(chǎn)、進(jìn)口和消費的準(zhǔn)確、一致和及時的數(shù)據(jù)，并在定期的市場報告中公布這些數(shù)據(jù)。2016年，F(xiàn)ranz-Josef Wodopia教授接任市場委員會主席，取代了多年來表現(xiàn)卓越的Erich Schmitz博士。沃德伯亞教授在煤炭行業(yè)建立了自己的職業(yè)生涯，先是領(lǐng)導(dǎo)德國煤炭協(xié)會GVSt，后來成為煤炭進(jìn)口商協(xié)會VDKi的總經(jīng)理。他向委員會介紹了他對這個行業(yè)扎實而深入的了解。歐洲能源和環(huán)境政策委員會主要處理能源、氣候、環(huán)境和其他與煤炭有關(guān)的政策。委員會響應(yīng)三個歐洲聯(lián)盟機(jī)構(gòu)，即歐洲委員會、歐洲議會和歐洲理事會的倡議和程序。由于個別會員國所作能源政策決定的重大影響，成員之間就國家問題交換意見是委員會活動的一個重要部分。2016年又是忙碌的一年，在環(huán)境委員會和能源政策委員會合并后，委員會有了新的職權(quán)范圍。為了處理具體問題，成立了新的特別工作組，由索爾斯滕迪耶克斯博士領(lǐng)導(dǎo)，他與泛歐集團(tuán)有長期的聯(lián)系，擔(dān)任過五年的秘書長。

The year 2016 was a year of change in Europe on  many levels. For the coal industry, change took on  a larger profile as political thinking towards coal  had repercussions within the sector and beyond.  Yet, with change came some familiar refrains. The coal sector retains its position in the EU  energy mix, reliably suppling around one quarter  of EU electricity. In 2016, the EU mined  371 million tonnes of brown coal or lignite, while  87 million tonnes of hard coal production were  supplemented by a further 167 million tonnes of  imported coal. Coal remains an important  business in the EU.

The aim of the EURACOAL Market Committee is to  deliver accurate, consistent and timely data on  production, imports and consumption of hard coal  and lignite in Europe, and to publish these data in  regular market reports.In 2016, Prof. Franz-Josef Wodopia took over the  helm of the Market Committee, replacing Dr. Erich  Schmitz who had served with distinction over  many years. Prof. Wodopia built his career in the  coal industry, rising to lead GVSt, the German Coal  Association, before becoming General Manager at  VDKi, the Coal Importers’ Association. He brings  to the committee his solid, in-depth knowledge of  the industry.

The EURACOAL Energy and Environment Policy  Committee deals primarily with energy, climate,  environment and other coal-related policies. The  committee responds to the initiatives and  procedures of the three European Union  institutions, namely the European Commission, the  European Parliament and the European Council.  Due to the significant implications of energy policy  decisions made by individual member states, an  exchange of views between members on national  issues is an important part of the committee’s  activities. The committee had another busy year in 2016,  with new areas of competence following the  merger of the Environment Committee and the  Energy Policy Committee. New ad-hoc working  groups were created to deal with specific issues,  led by Dr. Thorsten Diercks who has had a long  association with EURACOAL, including as  Secretary-General for five years.