Europe chamber's wish list covers wind farms and EV regulations

Dirk Lukat, chairperson of the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea, speaks during a press conference on the "ECCK White Paper 2022" held at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul, Wednesday. [ECCK]

More support for offshore wind farms, more warning when EV regulations are changed and a better alignment of regulations with international standards, the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) advised the Korean government in its "ECCK White Paper 2022."

These were three of the 96 recommendations in the chamber's 8th annual list of ways to improve the Korean business environment. The recommendations covered 18 categories, including renewable energy, cars, food, alcohol and chemicals.

"Offshore wind power plants are the most promising source of large-scale renewable energy considering Korea's geography," said Moon Go-young, the energy committee chairperson at ECCK and country chair at the Korean office of RWE, a German energy company.

Moon proposed the government set up more detailed guidelines for renewable energy grid connections, devise an administrative system for dealing with complaints and strengthen the local supply chain in the wind power industry.

European carmakers urged the Korean government to announce the supply target for low- and zero-emission vehicles at least two years in advance, and to provide clearer standards in the certification process for EVs.

"The current vehicle certification system is based on regulations targeting internal combustion vehicles, and therefore there are a number of missing points that are not clearly stipulated for EVs," said Kim Hong-joong, chairperson of ECCK's passenger vehicle committee and director of external affairs at Mercedes-Benz Korea.

One of the major issues addressed during the press event was aligning Korea's regulatory framework with the international standard.

"One critical area that goes across the industries are international standards," said Dirk Lukat, ECCK chairperson. "These, we believe, should be adjusted and aligned to achieve a fair and transparent business environment and a strong base for European and Korean business to prosper."

"Last year, our trade year-on-year increased 20 percent," said Maria Castillo-Fernandez, EU ambassador to Korea, "Europe is and remains Korea's largest source of foreign direct investment here, ahead of Japan and U.S."

Castillo-Fernandez emphasized the importance of free trade and cooperation between the EU and Korea, especially in terms of the "green and digital" agenda, amid rising economic uncertainties worldwide.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]