EU ETS reform decision powers finalised soon

The European Parliament's conference of presidents will decide on 28 January the decision-making powers of the environment and industry committees in a review of the EU emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) directive.

The matter was referred to parliament's governing body after the conference of committee chairs failed to resolve a dispute between the two committees over which of them should act as lead committee over certain aspects of the law.

The EU ETS reform proposal will govern the cap and the number of free allowances handed out in phase four (2021-30) of the scheme.

The disagreement revolves around the industry committee's demand for exclusive competence in three areas — the modernisation fund, free allowances for power sector modernisation in east Europe, and the carbon leakage list. But the environment committee rejected these demands, as it is unwilling to grant exclusive control over any components of the bill to another committee.

Jerzy Buzek, a Polish MEP who is the chair of the conference of committee chairs and also the industry committee's chair, drafted a recommendation on the issue to the conference of presidents.

"There probably is a majority of groups saying no, we're not going to give exclusive competence to ITRE [the industry committee]," Dutch Green MEP Bas Eickhout told Argus.

But since Buzek plays this dual role and he will be the only one of the conference of committee chairs present, this can result in strange dynamics, Eickhout said.

"You would expect that on this topic he would say, sorry I can't speak as chair of committee chairs and someone else should step in. But he's not doing that," Eickhout added.