Little progress was made on Monday 10 June on the inter-institutional negotiations on the structural reform of the EU's emission trading system (ETS) for the 2021-2030 period, but the Estonian Presidency of the EU Council and the European Parliament negotiators agreed on how to move ahead on this complex issue (see EUROPE 11818).
The fourth trialogue meeting (Parliament, Council, Commission) is planned for 13 September.
The third trialogue meeting persuaded the Presidency and the Parliament of the need to see more clearly with regard to the potential impact of any amendment of one of the text's three pillars (strengthening the ETS, protecting against carbon leaks, and the Solidarity Fund) on the balance of the whole proposal for the directive that has been tabled. They also asked the European Commission for a tool for assessing the impact of any change in order to help them with this (in the form of a table, or graphs, for example) – a tool which would enable them to identify how far they could respectively move.
"The parties mapped and clarified the main issues in preparation for the next trilogue that will be held on 13 September. The possibilities to create a tool for facilitating better understanding of the file were also explored", a diplomatic source told EUROPE.
The Commission agreed. It will provide the Parliament and Council with this tool so that each institution can move ahead with its analysis.
For the time being, the Estonian Presidency has not yet enlarged its negotiation mandate. But it intends to discuss this with the permanent member state representatives (Coreper) before the next trialogue, in order to renew the mandate entrusted it by the Council.
The first Coreper meeting after the summer break, possibly on 8 September, could provide this opportunity, but it remains to be confirmed. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)