The cement sector has been included on the EU Climate Change Committee's approved list of sectors deemed to be at risk of carbon leakage, a move welcomed by European cement association, Cembureau.

"The measure will provide stability and legal certainty at least for the 2014-2019 period for the cement industry," said Cembureau in a statement. The list will be used in the free allocation of allowances for the 2015-19 period and will thus provide regulatory predictability for the remainder of this decade.

The proposal will now be subject to a three-month scrutiny by the European Parliament and Council before the Commission can finally formally adopt it in October 2014.