Donald Charlesworth, Aylesford company secretary, said: “We have had no contact with Brussels and the first knowledge we had of the complaint was around the press release from WRAP.”
He added that the announcement of the investigation “comes as a blow for the newsprint industry in the UK which is seeking to divert nearly two million tonnes of newspapers and magazines from landfill to create a useful product.”
WRAP says that it remains fully committed to its flagship project and will “fully cooperate” with the investigation. The grant is to support investment by UPM-Kymmene UK at its Shotton plant.
WRAP described the formal investigation by the EU Competition directorate simply as “the Commission’s wish to look more closely at this groundbreaking initiative.” However, WRAP did warn that a decision may take 18 months which is several months after the plant is due to be up and running. If this did happen it would come near to the end of WRAP's three year life, although the organisation is expected to get more work following publication of the government's PIU/Strategy Unit report.
Convinced
WRAP said it remains convinced of the viability and strength of the case for clearance, and notes that “support has been given to many similar schemes in other parts of the European Union, with as many as 17 schemes being approved in the past ten years”.
Chief Executive of WRAP, Jennie Price commented: “WRAP has and will continue to co-operate fully with the Commission in order to expedite this assessment. WRAP and UPM-Kymmene remain fully committed to the project, and will continue to work together to ensure that the momentum of this important environmental initiative is maintained.”
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