Brussels, 14/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - This week the European Commission decided to send final written warnings Austria, Denmark, Hungary and Italy calling on them to rapidly submit national allocation plans for the second trading period of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme from 2008 to 2012. The presentation deadline was June 30th 2006. National allocation plans (NAPs) fix the total number of emission allowances issued by a Member State and determine how many allowances each individual installation covered by the ETS will receive. This cap makes the NAPs for 2008-2012 an important element in Member States' strategies for achieving their emission targets under the Kyoto Protocol, which have to be met during the same period. The Commission has three months to assess the complete plans sent to it from Member States. The Commission attaches a high priority to taking its decisions on all NAPs by early 2007 so that conditions for trading in 2008-2012 are established and known by market operators in good time before the next trading period starts on 1 January 2008. This requires those Member States that have not yet done so to submit their NAPs as soon as possible.
The Commission is also taking action against seven Member States for failing to provide complete reports on their progress in limiting or cutting greenhouse gas emissions. These reports are required by a 2004 EU Decision on monitoring emissions and implementing the Kyoto Protocol. They are needed by the Commission to prepare annual reports on Community emissions under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. The deadline for Member States to submit the reports was 15 January 2006. The seven Member States have provided some but not all of the information needed. France, Germany, Poland and Slovenia are to receive first written warnings. Estonia, Luxembourg and Spain are being sent final written warnings since they have failed to provide complete reports despite first written warnings earlier this year. If these three Member States do not comply with the reasoned opinion, the Commission could begin legal proceedings against them. (ol)