Poland wants more debate on EU climate package

Poland wants more debate when it comes to European Union's climate package and according to Polish Environment Minister Maciej Nowicki, the nation has moved a step closer to assembling a blocking minority.

The move was confirmed on Monday by the Minister, who said that a common view on this issue was reached with Greece last week. "We have reached a far-reaching convergence of views [with Greece] on a number of issues regarding the climate package," Nowicki told Reuters.

However, Greece officials have denied that such a deal was reached. "I state categorically that the meeting [between the Greek and the Polish Environment Ministers] which took place last week was a discussion over general environmental issues," Deputy Environment Minister Stavros Kalogiannis said in a statement.

According to Kalogiannis, Greece is committed to fulfilling European Commission's climate package, which calls for a cut to CO2 emissions by a fifth by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. Meanwhile, certain member states are lagging behind in meeting these targets and a blocking minority may infringe on EC's climate plans.

Something for consideration

Nowicki said that Poland recognizes EC's goals, but a country which is highly dependent on coal for energy sources, the current plan would hurt the Polish industry. Under the plan, full auctioning of the CO2 emission permits under the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) will begin in 2013. However, Poland feels that the industry will not have enough funds for its power plants to compete with larger companies in the EU on the free-market auctions.

"According to the Polish proposal, 80 percent of emission permits should be granted to the energy sector free of charge and only 20 percent bought on the market," Nowicki said. "Then, the number of free emissions would shrink by 10 percentage points every year. So full auctioning as of 2020, not 2013."

Carbon costs

Meanwhile, the European Parliament's environment committee voted on Tuesday for power generators, which are included in the ETS scheme, to buy permits for every tonne of carbon dioxide emission from 2013. This vote comes in conflict with Poland trying to influence a change on the 100 percent carbon auctioning target. Avril Doyle, member of the European Parliament steering EU ETS legislation said that the vote is not yet final, but does set a tone for EU's energy plans.

She did state that the committee backed a phase-in auctioning approach, which begins with 15 percent in 2013 for states which can't fully compete for credits rising to 100 percent by 2020.

"Some of our Polish colleagues were nervous, we have to show solidarity, if there are real problems for some of our newer member states, I think they'll be looked after," she told reporters. (AO)

Source: Reuters