Brussels, 17/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - The benchmarking rules which will govern the allocation of free CO2 emission allowances to certain sectors under the ETS directive for 2012-2020 were given the go-ahead by member states on Thursday 16 December. Member states' representatives on the Council's climate committee approved the draft decision establishing harmonised rules for efficiency references linking the allocation of free quotas to a benchmark of best performances (in terms of CO2) in the sectors concerned (for details, see EUROPE 10211). The draft decision will be put to Monday's Environment Council and to the Parliament, both of which will have three months to discuss it. After that time, if there are no objections, the text will be formally adopted by the Commission.
Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard has welcomed the outcome of the vote as a major step in the reform of the European carbon market which gives industry more of a regulatory guarantee. These benchmarks reflect the average performance of the 10% of most efficient installations in a sector or subsector in 2007 and 2008. They will encourage ETS installations to cut emissions and improve energy efficiency. Only the most efficient will receive all the allowances they need for free, the others will have to improve their performances or buy additional emissions rights from others, the commissioner said. (A.N./transl.rt)