EU ETS to be tabled for second vote as political parties reach consensus

The major European Parliament parties European People’s Party (EPP), Socialist & Democrats (S&D) and Renew Europe (RE) announced that they have reached an agreement on the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) reform that includes an extension of the ETS to cover shipping.

PHOTO: European Parliament MEPs blaming each other as the ETS was rejected out when it was first tabled for a vote last week. European Union

The ETS breakthrough came a week after the reform was surprisingly rejected by the majority of European Parliament members.

“Last night, Christian Democrats, Social Democrats and Liberals agreed on a new compromise on emissions trading,” said EPP lawmaker Pieter Liese, who was the rapporteur of the ETS proposal.

He reckons that an ETS reform will be supported by a large majority in the Parliament when it will be tabled for a second vote on 22 June.

Last week, the ETS proposal was dramatically rejected with 340 MEPs votes against, and 265 votes in favour, as well as 34 abstentions. Liese found the European Green Party and S&D responsible for the rejection of the Environmental Committee’s proposal on ETS.

The political parties are now backing the proposal, he said.

“We have managed to find a solution in less than a week’s time,” said the committee's president Pascal Canfin.

Last month, the committee voted in favour of an extensive emissions regulations agenda that would include shipping emissions in the EU ETS.

The proposal approved by the committee would extend to cover ETS on all ship emissions from intra-European voyages by 2024. Half of the emissions from voyages to and from EU countries would be included between 2024-2026, before being expanded to 100% from 2027.

Following an approval from the committee, the proposal needs a green light from European Parliament members at the upcoming parliamentary session on 22-23 June, and then to be negotiated by EU member states.