Revenue from auctions of emission allowances under the ETS

27.10.2011

Question for written answer P-010172/2011
to the Commission
Rule 117
Mikael Gustafsson (GUE/NGL)

As the Commission is aware, Member States are required to allocate at least 50 % of the revenue from auctions of emission allowances under the ETS directly to climate measures (cf. Article 10 and Recital 18 of the Emissions Trading Directive (Directive 2009/29/EC)).

The Swedish Government’s budget for 2012 does not earmark any funding at all for climate measures. The revenue from auctions is instead to be channelled directly to the State budget, without specification. This is made clear on page 31, footnote 4.

Sweden’s Finance Minister has also recently made a statement on the issue during a debate in the Swedish Parliament. Please see: http://www.riksdagen.se/webbnav/index.aspx?nid=101&bet=2011/12:18#{306D7B47-0B76-4D20-A205-607070E739D4}

What view does the Commission take if a country does not earmark 50 % of the revenue, as stipulated by the EU directive?

Will the Commission take action against Member States which fail to earmark at least 50 % of the revenue for climate measures?

OJ C 168 E, 14/06/2012