EU states "closer to deal on climate package"

2658, 14/11/08

EU governments are getting closer to an agreement on the proposed package of legislative proposals to achieve Europe's climate objectives for 2020, Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said on Thursday.

The climate package was among several issues raised by Mr Tusk during a meeting with French president Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris.  Poland is one of the most vocal critics of plans to set stricter EU carbon emission rules, one of the package's most controversial elements (EED 31/10/08 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/26481).

"Without a question, we are today closer to achieving success in terms of the adoption of a joint project package, that will also be safe for poorer countries, than we were several weeks ago," said the Polish prime minister.  EU heads of states and governments are expected to reach an agreement on the package on 11-12 December.

Poland's position is now very close to what the French presidency of the EU is proposing, and governments and the European commission have a much better understanding of the challenges faced by eastern European economies that are highly reliant on coal, Mr Tusk added.

The prospect of an agreement in the EU council of ministers seemed more remote after leaders of Baltic states joined an alliance of eastern European countries opposed to various parts of the package earlier this month (EED 06/11/08 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/26522). But Mr Tusk's comments show that council discussions are making progress and that concerns about the climate plans are being addressed.

Mr Sarkozy will meet with heads of governments in the Baltic and eastern European regions in Poland on 6 December to further discuss these concerns (EED 25/09/08 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/26222; EED 04/08/08 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/25966).  Poland is particularly opposed to introducing full auctioning of carbon allowances for the power sector from 2013.

Poland proposes to allocate free allowances up to fuel specific, technology-based benchmarks.  Warsaw claims support from new member states as well as EU-15 countries that burn a lot of coal such as Germany.  It also wants to introduce a carbon price floor and ceiling, for example E10-15 to E38 per tonne.

EU governments have begun negotiations with MEPs on most elements of the climate package (EED 31/10/08 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/26481; EED 30/10/08 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/26471; EED 29/10/08 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/26461).  Both sides are hoping to reach a first reading agreement on the plans by the end of the year.

Follow-up: Polish government website http://www.kprm.gov.pl/, plus a press release http://www.kprm.gov.pl/s.php?id=2733 (in Polish)

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