EU Countries Warned to Send Emission Plans on Time
Date: 10-Apr-06
Country: BELGIUM
Each of the EU's 25 governments must send their plans to the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, by June 30.
The plans will detail how the allocations of CO2, the main gas blamed for global warming, will be distributed between high-polluting plants such as power stations and oil refineries.
The so-called National Allocation Plans (NAPs) are part of the EU's landmark emissions trading scheme, which kicked off last year for its first trading period, 2005-2007.
"We have asked member states to be prompt in submitting their National Allocation Plans by June 30," EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas told reporters.
"I hope they will respect this date. I am determined to use all means available to get them to do so," he said, declining to elaborate on the toughest measure he would be prepared to use.
In theory, the Commission could haul a country to Europe's highest court, the European Court of Justice, if it missed the June 30 deadline since this would be a breach of EU law.
This was threatened by Dimas' predecessor Margot Wallstrom when the first round of NAPs were being submitted to Brussels. But in practice, deadlines were extended for laggard countries.
The Commission has the power to approve or reject the plans, based on how well they fulfil Kyoto Protocol targets to reduce polluting gases that scientists say heat the earth.
"I will prepare myself for a tough second semester," Dimas said. "I cannot say that all member states will fully comply -- I hope that they will," he said.
"But we are definitely in a better position than the previous time, and the member states are as well."
Under the EU's emissions trading scheme, companies that overshoot their targets can buy credits on a market, and those that come in below can sell their extra allowances.
This system is designed to create an economic incentive to cut back on polluting gases.