Press Release: Emissions trading: Commission decides on Czech and Polish national allocation plans for 2008-2012

The European Commission on 26 March 2007 took decisions on the national plans of the Czech Republic and Poland for allocating CO2 emission allowances for the 2008-2012 trading period of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). It accepted both national plans on condition that a number of changes are made, including a significant reduction in the total number of emission allowances proposed by each Member State. The cleared annual allocation of CO2 allowances is 86.8 million tonnes for the Czech Republic, 14.8% lower than proposed, and 208.5 million tonnes for Poland, 26.7% lower than proposed. The Emissions Trading Scheme ensures that greenhouse gas emissions from the energy and industry sectors covered are cut at least cost to the economy, thus helping the EU and its Member States to meet their emission commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.