On Wednesday 6 October, the Environment Ministers of the EU Member States held their first formal exchange of views on the European Commissions proposed climate legislation package (‘Fit for 55’).
Although the analysis of the package by the capitals is far from complete, as it is so dense and complex (it includes 13 interconnected legislative proposals), the round table discussion has already made it possible to perceive the positions of the Member States, and even their red lines for some of them, concerning the five proposals of the ‘Fit for 55’ package debated by the ministers (see EUROPE 12804/34).
ETS2
Mentioned by all ministers (with the exception of the Italian minister, who did not take part in the debate), the proposal to establish a new EU Emissions Trading System (ETS2) - separate from the existing ETS - covering emissions from space heating and road transport appeared to divide Member States (see EUROPE 12762/1).
While Austria, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Germany expressed rather favourable opinions, Hungary, Cyprus, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Malta, Bulgaria and Ireland appeared to be opposed.
Other countries have expressed less clear-cut positions.
The Dutch minister stressed that Amsterdam sees “potential benefits” in the ETS2, but emphasised the need for ambitious standards to be put in place.
Greece, Romania and Croatia, on the other hand, have expressed concerns.
Adopting a cautious approach, France, Spain and Latvia stressed the need to analyse the full consequences of such a system.
The Luxembourg minister explained that her government was “sceptical” about the proposal.
CO2 standards for cars
Another divisive issue was the Commission’s proposal to ban the sale of new petrol cars and vans from 2035 (see EUROPE 12762/3).
Austria, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Finland recommended strengthening the proposal, with some calling for the deadline to be brought forward to 2030.
Hungary, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, on the other hand, considered that a ban as early as 2035 would be premature.
For their part, Belgium and Greece supported the Commission’s proposal.
Effort sharing
The ministers’ discussions also diverged on the issue of the revision of the Effort Sharing Regulation, in particular the new greenhouse gas emission reduction targets proposed for each Member State (see EUROPE 12762/2).
While Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg argued for more convergence between the national targets in the Commission’s proposal, Hungary and Romania insisted that GDP per capita should remain the main criterion for determining the targets.
The Czech Republic also stressed that its new target (which is almost double the current one) seems unattainable.
Noting the lack of enthusiasm among Member States for the creation of an ETS2, the Commission’s Executive Vice-President in charge of the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, asked ministers to remember that the cost of inaction will be much higher.
“If you look at the ETS, don’t only look at the cost but also look at the revenues”, he added, pointing out that Member States had benefited this year from almost €11 billion more from the ETS compared to last year. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)