EU Carbon Market Under Fire: Italy Wants the ETS Suspended
Europe’s flagship climate policy instrument is suddenly in the crosshairs — from inside Europe. Italy’s industry minister has called for a temporary suspension of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), arguing that carbon costs are inflating electricity prices and hurting industrial competitiveness. At a meeting of “Friends of Industry” countries in Brussels, the push was framed as a practical necessity while the system gets reformed. The European Commission pushed back hard. Commissioners stated the EU is “not in an energy crisis as severe as 2022” and rejected talk of suspending the ETS or releasing emergency oil stocks. The current situation, they argue, doesn’t warrant dismantling the cornerstone of EU climate policy. ...