Progress: Procedure completed
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | ENVI |
JADOT Yannick ( Verts/ALE)
|
JARUBAS Adam ( EPP),
CHAHIM Mohammed ( S&D),
CANFIN Pascal ( Renew),
HUHTASAARI Laura ( ID),
ROOKEN Rob ( ECR),
BOMPARD Manuel ( GUE/NGL)
|
| Committee Opinion | INTA |
KARLSBRO Karin ( Renew)
|
Emmanuel MAUREL ( GUE/NGL),
Massimiliano SALINI ( PPE),
Jan ZAHRADIL ( ECR),
Markus BUCHHEIT ( ID)
|
| Committee Opinion | BUDG |
GUALMINI Elisabetta ( S&D)
|
Roberts ZĪLE ( ECR),
Joachim KUHS ( ID),
Francisco GUERREIRO ( Verts/ALE),
Valérie HAYER ( RE),
Silvia MODIG ( GUE/NGL),
Angelika WINZIG ( PPE)
|
| Committee Opinion | ECON |
GARICANO Luis ( Renew)
|
Christophe HANSEN ( PPE),
Paul TANG ( S&D),
Manon AUBRY ( GUE/NGL),
Gunnar BECK ( ID),
Damien CARÊME ( Verts/ALE),
Bogdan RZOŃCA ( ECR)
|
| Committee Opinion | ITRE |
GEIER Jens ( S&D)
|
Manuel BOMPARD ( GUE/NGL),
Damien CARÊME ( Verts/ALE),
Klemen GROŠELJ ( RE),
Tomas TOBÉ ( PPE),
Paolo BORCHIA ( ID),
Izabela-Helena KLOC ( ECR)
|
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54
Legal Basis:
RoP 54Subjects
Events
The European Parliament adopted by 444 votes to 70, with 181 abstentions, a resolution towards a WTO-compatible EU border carbon adjustment mechanism.
Members noted that while greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the EU have fallen by 24%, GHG emissions embedded in imports into the EU have continued to rise, undermining the EU's efforts to reduce its global carbon footprint.
Net imports of goods and services into the EU account for over 20% of the EU's CO2 emissions. GHG emissions from imports should therefore be better monitored to identify possible measures to reduce the EU's global carbon footprint.
A WTO-compatible European Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
Parliament supported the establishment of a European carbon border adjustment mechanism, provided it is compatible with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules and the EU's free trade agreements (FTAs) and is exclusively designed to advance climate objectives and not be misused as a tool to enhance protectionism.
According to Members, the introduction of a carbon border adjustment mechanism should be:
- part of a package of legislative measures to ensure the rapid reduction of GHG emissions from EU production and consumption, notably by boosting energy efficiency and the deployment of renewable energies;
- combined with policies to promote investment in low-carbon industrial processes, including through innovative financing tools and an environmentally ambitious and socially fair European industrial policy to steer Europe's decarbonised reindustrialisation.
As a complement to the introduction of such a mechanism, the Commission should propose a more ambitious and binding norms and standards on products placed on the EU market in terms of GHG emission reduction and savings on resources and energy.
Connection with the revision of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS)
The resolution called for consideration of the modalities for the design of a border carbon adjustment mechanism coupled with the revision of the EU ETS, so as to ensure complementarity and consistency. To prevent possible distortions in the internal market and along the value chain, the mechanism should cover all products imported under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), including when embedded in intermediate or final products.
As a starting point (from 2023) and following an impact assessment, the mechanism should cover the power sector and energy-intensive industrial sectors such as cement, steel, aluminium, oil refinery, paper, glass, chemicals and fertilisers, which continue to benefit from significant amounts of free allocations and still account for 94% of the EU's industrial emissions.
Members considered that to address the potential risk of carbon leakage while complying with WTO rules, the mechanism needs to charge the carbon content of imports in a way that mirrors the carbon costs paid by EU producers. Carbon pricing under the mechanism should mirror the dynamic evolution of the price of EU allowances under the EU ETS while ensuring predictability and less volatility in the price of carbon.
The environmental criteria should therefore play an essential role in the choice of instrument, ensuring a predictable and sufficiently high carbon price that incentivises decarbonisation investments.
Trade-related aspects of a carbon border adjustment mechanism
Members called for the Paris Agreement to become one of the main guiding principles of trade policy, to which all trade initiatives and their policy tools must be adjusted, by including it in, inter alia , free-trade agreements (FTAs) as an essential element.
Stressing that the EU has played a leading role in global climate action, the resolution encouraged the Commission and Member States to step up their climate diplomacy ahead of and after the adoption of the legislative proposal for a carbon border adjustment mechanism, and to ensure continued dialogue between trading partners to incentivise global climate action.
Any mechanism must create an incentive for industries in the EU and abroad to produce clean and competitive products and avoid carbon leakage, without endangering trade opportunities.
Fuelling the EU budget as a new own resource
Parliament supported the Commission's intention to use the revenue generated by the border carbon adjustment mechanism as new own resources for the EU budget. The new revenue should further support climate action and the objectives of the Green Deal, such as the just transition and the decarbonisation of Europe’s economy, and for an increase in the EU’s contribution to international climate finance in favour of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, which are most vulnerable to climate change.
The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted an own-initiative report by Yannick JADOT (Greens/EFA, FR) entitled "Towards a WTO-compatible EU carbon border adjustment mechanism".
Members considered that ensuring effective and meaningful carbon pricing, as part of a broader regulatory environment, could provide an incentive to develop production methods with a lower carbon footprint and could stimulate investment in innovation and new technologies.
The report shows that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions embedded in imports to the EU have been steadily increasing, undermining the EU's efforts to reduce its global carbon footprint. Net imports of goods and services into the EU account for more than 20% of the EU's CO2 emissions.
A WTO-compatible European Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
Members supported the establishment of a European carbon border adjustment mechanism, provided it is compatible with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules and the EU's free trade agreements (FTAs) and is not misused to enhance protectionism.
By supporting EU and global climate policies towards greenhouse gas neutrality, in line with the Paris Agreement objectives, such a mechanism would reduce global CO2 emissions and prevent carbon leakage. It would also encourage European industries and the EU's trading partners to decarbonise their industries.
According to Members, the introduction of a carbon border adjustment mechanism should be:
- part of a package of legislative measures to ensure the rapid reduction of GHG emissions from EU production and consumption, notably by boosting energy efficiency and the deployment of renewable energies;
- combined with policies to promote investment in low-carbon industrial processes, including through innovative financing tools and an environmentally ambitious and socially fair European industrial policy to steer Europe's decarbonised reindustrialisation.
Connection with the revision of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS)
The report called for consideration of the modalities for the design of a border carbon adjustment mechanism coupled with the revision of the EU ETS, so as to ensure complementarity and consistency. To prevent possible distortions in the internal market and along the value chain, the mechanism should cover all products imported under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), including when embedded in intermediate or final products.
The report stressed that, as a starting point (from 2023) and following an impact assessment, the mechanism should cover the power sector and energy-intensive industrial sectors such as cement, steel, aluminium, oil refinery, paper, glass, chemicals and fertilisers, which continue to benefit from significant amounts of free allocations and still account for 94% of the EU's industrial emissions.
Members considered that to address the potential risk of carbon leakage while complying with WTO rules, the mechanism needs to charge the carbon content of imports in a way that mirrors the carbon costs paid by EU producers. Carbon pricing under the mechanism should mirror the dynamic evolution of the price of EU allowances under the EU ETS while ensuring predictability and less volatility in the price of carbon.
Trade-related aspects of a carbon border adjustment mechanism
Members called for the Paris Agreement and its 1.5 ℃ goal to become one of the main guiding principles of trade policy, to which all trade initiatives and their policy tools must be adjusted, by including it in, inter alia, free-trade agreements (FTAs) as an essential element.
Stressing that the EU has played a leading role in global climate action, the report encouraged the Commission and Member States to step up their climate diplomacy ahead of and after the adoption of the legislative proposal for a carbon border adjustment mechanism, and to ensure continued dialogue between trading partners to incentivise global climate action.
Fuelling the EU budget as a new own resource
Members backed the Commission's intention to use the revenue generated by the carbon border adjustment mechanism as new own resources for the EU budget. They defended the objective that this resource should be mainly channelled towards the Green Deal and the just transition, with a significant share earmarked for the transition in the poorest countries and those most affected by climate change.
Documents
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament: T9-0071/2021
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Committee report tabled for plenary: A9-0019/2021
- Committee opinion: PE655.622
- Committee opinion: PE657.463
- Committee opinion: PE653.861
- Committee opinion: PE657.390
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE660.204
- Committee draft report: PE648.519
- Committee draft report: PE648.519
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE660.204
- Committee opinion: PE653.861
- Committee opinion: PE657.390
- Committee opinion: PE657.463
- Committee opinion: PE655.622
Activities
- Pascal CANFIN
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Jakop G. DALUNDE
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Bas EICKHOUT
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Jytte GUTELAND
Plenary Speeches (1)
- András GYÜRK
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Christophe HANSEN
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Yannick JADOT
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Seán KELLY
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Javi LÓPEZ
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Roberta METSOLA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Angelika NIEBLER
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Massimiliano SALINI
Plenary Speeches (1)
- David Maria SASSOLI
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Christel SCHALDEMOSE
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Joachim SCHUSTER
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Maria SPYRAKI
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Jadwiga WIŚNIEWSKA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Pedro MARQUES
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Tom BERENDSEN
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Michael BLOSS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Manuel BOMPARD
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Damien CARÊME
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Luis GARICANO
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Adam JARUBAS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Marcel KOLAJA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Hermann TERTSCH
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Alexandr VONDRA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Valérie HAYER
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Laura HUHTASAARI
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Karin KARLSBRO
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Petros KOKKALIS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Margarida MARQUES
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Silvia MODIG
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Ville NIINISTÖ
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Lídia PEREIRA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Edina TÓTH
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Anna ZALEWSKA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Martin HOJSÍK
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Markus BUCHHEIT
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Agnès EVREN
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Roman HAIDER
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Catherine GRISET
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Grzegorz TOBISZOWSKI
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Sándor RÓNAI
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Geert BOURGEOIS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Angelika WINZIG
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Mohammed CHAHIM
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Pernille WEISS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Jessica STEGRUD
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Manuela RIPA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Sara MATTHIEU
Plenary Speeches (1)
The Left
NI