The European Parliament approved by a large majority (413 votes in favour, 167 against and 57 abstentions), on Tuesday 18 April, the provisional Interinstitutional Agreement reached last 18 December 2022 (see EUROPE 13087/4) on the revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), including the aviation sector. The ETS has also been extended to maritime transport.
These texts are part of the key dossiers of the ‘Fit for 55’ package, the EU’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
This vote raises the EU’s ambitions for the ETS. The agreement aims to reduce GHG emissions in the ETS sectors by 62% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. It phases out free allowances for companies between 2026 and 2034 and creates a separate ETS 2 for fuels for road transport and the buildings sector, which will set a price for emissions from these sectors by 2027 (or 2028, if energy prices rise).
MEPs also voted (500 votes to 131 with 11 abstentions) to include, for the first time, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the maritime sector in the ETS and approved the revision of the ETS for aviation (by 463 votes to 117 with 64 abstentions). The aim is to phase out free quotas for this sector by 2026 and to encourage the use of sustainable fuels.
After the vote, the rapporteur of the main text, Peter Liese (EPP, German), was pleased: “I am very happy that the biggest climate law ever has been agreed with a broad majority in the European Parliament”. For him, the vote was “good for the climate, for jobs and for people”. The Dutch MEP, Mohammed Chahim (S&D), shadow rapporteur, was also very satisfied at the press conference. He welcomed, as well, the European Parliament’s role in “clearing up misunderstandings and reassuring people in the face of the doubts and fears of certain political groups”. On the Greens/EFA side, Michael Bloss (German), also a shadow rapporteur, welcomed : “This is a green victory and a leap forward for climate policies”. But the German MEP nevertheless warns about the Green Deal: “The Member States will get about €700 billion to invest in the transition. We can’t take money from people and offer them little in return. We need a European climate dividend to make sure the Green Deal is fair for all”.
After final approval by the EU Council, the texts can be published in the Official Journal of the EU and enter into force twenty days later.
To read the adopted texts: ETS review: https://aeur.eu/f/6de; Maritime ETS: https://aeur.eu/f/6df; Aviation ETS:https://aeur.eu/f/6dg (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)