Dimas tells two more states to rewrite NAPS

The European Commission has told another two EU countries to rewrite their national allocation plans (NAPs).

NAPs are the building blocks of the EU CO2 Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). They divide emission permits between large national industries and set the stage for heavy polluters to buy spare permits from cleaner companies. The latest decisions refer to NAPs for a second round of emission trading, from 2008-12.

Tuesday’s (16 January) decision saw Belgium and the Netherlands join ten other countries which had their NAPs rejected last November. Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia and Sweden were also told they had been over-generous with allocations. The UK was told its proposed allocation was fine but that changes were needed for industry installations in Gibraltar.

The remaining 15 member states have either not submitted NAPs, or sent them to Brussels so late that the Commission has not yet had time to give its opinion.

The European Commission has told another two EU countries to rewrite their national allocation plans (NAPs).