Brussels, 19/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - Cyprus' national plan for allocating carbon dioxide (CO2) emission allowances for 2008-2012 has been given conditional approval. On 18 July the European Commission gave a green light to the plan on condition that certain changes are made, and that Cyprus ensures that greenhouse gas emissions from the energy and industry sectors covered by the Community system are cut. The cleared annual allocation is 5.48 million tonnes of CO2 allowances (23% less than Cyprus had proposed).
The Cypriot authorities are also requested to eliminate several ex-post adjustments for quotas and provide the Commission with additional information on the way new entrants will be able to participate in the EU scheme Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).
The Commission's approval of the plan will become automatic once Cyprus has made the appropriate changes.
The conditional approval brings the number of EU ETS assessed by the Commission up to twenty three. In a press release Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said there were four more plans to be “finalised swiftly after the summer break to ensure an orderly transition to the second phase of the EU ETS when it begins in 2008.” The EU Emissions Trading Scheme was set up on 1 January 2005 under directive 2003/87/EC, amended by directive 2004/101/EC.
The proposed NAPs are assessed on 12 allocation criteria listed in the Emissions Trading Directive. These assessment criteria seek to ensure that plans are consistent with meeting the EU's and member states' Kyoto commitments; with actual verified emissions reported in the Commission's annual progress reports as well as with technological potential for reducing emissions. Other assessment criteria relate to competition and state aid.
The Commission coherently assesses all national plans in order to guarantee fair treatment of member states and create the much needed conditions for the EU Emissions Trading Scheme for CO2 so that the system functions efficiently. Information on the 23 plans assessed can be found at (http: //ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/2nd_phase_ep.htm). (an)