Brussels, 25/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Czech Republic has announced plans to appeal to the European Court of Justice against the European Commission's decision to grant only conditional approval to the Czech greenhouse gas emissions quota allocation plan (NQAP) for 2008-2012. The decision decided on 26 March 2007 that the Czech authorities had to make several corrections to the NQAP, revising down the total annual emissions ceiling (see EUROPE 9347). Asked by reporters to comment on the Czech plans, a spokesperson for EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas was unconcerned about a possible case at the Court of Justice, commenting that the Commission deplored the fact that the Czech Republic was raising such an issue at the Court. The spokesperson added that the Commission's decision was based on scientific criteria and actual Czech emission in 2005, and was solid and well backed up - the Commission is confident it will not be challenged.
Asked about Poland's desire to negotiate a different annual ceiling from the one approved by the European Commission, Stavros Dimas' spokesperson said without hesitation that while NQAPs could be adjusted for technical reasons, the ceilings were non-negotiable. (an)