“I think that every time we have the opportunity to raise our ambitions, we should do so, because we are setting standards internationally”, said MEP Mohammed Chahim (S&D, Netherlands), rapporteur for the text on the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM).
In a debate with his counterparts on the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), he urged MEPs to agree on an ambitious CBAM. More than 13,000 amendments have been tabled so far on his report.
The European Parliament is still divided on this issue between, on the one hand, the promoters of a mechanism that takes into account as many emissions as possible and is operational quickly, and, on the other, the supporters of a gradual entry into force of the mechanism in order not to disrupt EU industry too much.
Mr Chahim considers that the CBAM proposal is already very balanced in its transition period and revision clauses. He called on his counterparts to take into account the fact that CBAM is above all an environmental instrument.
The EPP, ECR and ID groups continue to oppose a rapid end to the free allocation of greenhouse gas emission allowances from the ETS. The other groups want a rapid exit from these allowances.
On the other hand, a compromise seems to be emerging in Parliament on the governance of the mechanism. The rapporteur’s proposal to have a central authority to oversee the operation of the mechanism has convinced the different political groups.
Finally, Mohammed Chahim indicated that he was exploring, with the shadow rapporteurs, the possibility of including provisions for force majeure in the text. Exceptional situations, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, could justify adjustments to the mechanism, he said. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)