The Environment Council’s political agreement in principle reached by qualified majority on 28 February on the reform of the system for trading emissions allowances (ETS) for the period from 2021 to 2030 is likely to be a surprise inclusion at the European Council on 9-10 March.
It does not feature on the meeting’s agenda but the fact that the agreement was approved by qualified majority when the European Council had agreed to come back, if necessary, and provide guidance on any legislative text arising from its October 2014 conclusions on climate and energy to 2030 has displeased the nine delegations, led by Poland, which did not back the compromise (see EUROPE 11735).
The Polish and Hungarian ministers let it be known a few days ahead of the March European Council that they had no intention of letting things rest.
“It might come up to the table. It was a political mistake before the Rome summit (Ed: marking the EU’s 60th anniversary) to push through a compromise which nine member states opposed, especially on an issue to which the leaders were prepared to come back if necessary. This is typically the kind of story that causes serious damage”, a European source said on Wednesday 8 March alluding to the on-going discussions on the future of the EU.
A second source predicted that the “frustration” caused by this approval by qualified majority could “provoke a lively debate”, given that several delegations take the view that, on the contrary, “the European Council should not be the appeals body”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang with Sophie Petitjean)