S&Ds criticise right-wing euro mps for weakening EU emissions trading system

Today the European Parliament rejected a proposal to delay the auctioning of emissions allowances as an exceptional measure to readjust the Emissions Trading System (ETS) after the surplus of allowances brought down their prices and made the system inefficient.

The Socialists and Democrats in the Parliament supported the delay and expressed their deep concern that a conservative-led majority today failed to act responsibly, not only to make sure we have effective climate policies, but to secure the EU’s global leadership against climate change and create an efficient policy framework for those companies investing in energy efficiency.

S&D president Hannes Swoboda said: „It is a big mistake because backloading is in no way in conflict with a reinforced industrial policy. We have to combine a reasonable environmental policy with a modern, sustainable industrial policy.“

The author of the parliamentary report on the issue, S&D Euro MP Matthias Groote, said: „This is the beginning of the re-nationalisation of European climate politics. This kind of politics plays into the hands of the climate sceptics.

„The rejection of the backloading proposal weakens the European Emissions Trading System and puts the EU’s climate goals at risk.“

S&D spokesperson on the environment, Euro MP Linda McAvan said: „The ETS has some shortcomings, but it has already helped the EU bring down its emissions and it is taken as an example by other regions of the world.

„There is a surplus of 900 million allowances that has brought the price down from €30 – as originally calculated by energy producers – to €2.80. This imbalance is distorting the market and hindering Europe’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

„Conservatives in the European Parliament today showed their total lack of vision for Europe’s smart growth and environmental responsibility. It was the European Parliament who asked the Commission to present a transitional measure to support the ETS while we introduce structural measures. With this rejection the conservatives now leave the Commission in a very difficult situation both in the eyes of European industry and energy producers, and in the eyes of our international partners.“