The Packaging Federation-led meeting was organised through MPs Eric Ilsley and Janet Dean of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Packaging Manufacturing Industry.
Packaging Federation ceo Ian Dent says UK converters have seen prices double since 2003, "creating greater disparity with their competitors in the rest of Europe, where increases have been more modest".
He adds: "Although the European Commission has made pronouncements on 'serious malfunctions' in the EU energy markets, it does not intend producing a final report until late 2006. We want remedial action now."
During the discussions the converter representatives raised the findings on European energy prices both of the EU, and the Government's Trade & Industry Select Committee. They also cited what Dent dubs "some irrefutable evidence from Packaging Federation members representing all primary material sectors of the impact energy costs are having on the future viability of UK operations and future investments".
In a briefing paper and action plan, the delegations called for "an urgent review of UK energy policy to provide some interim financial relief mechanism based on energy efficiency measures and the UK Climate Change Levy provisions", examination into the supply infrastructure and financial arrangements for the UK wholesale gas and electricity markets", a Treasury impact assessment into the financial markets for emissions trading and the "relative UK energy pricing mechanisms", and "assessment of future UK energy" strategy in the light of a recent European Commission statement that "co-existence of regulated and free market prices causes distortions".
