Six member states have urged the EU to shield their heavy industries from carbon costs, warning that the bloc’s climate policy must adapt to geopolitical crises and “exceptionally high” energy prices.
In a letter seen by the FT, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Greece and Slovakia have called for an increase of permits for industries to emit carbon under the bloc’s emissions trading system.
Heavy industrial companies that were seeking to transition to cleaner output should receive extra free carbon permits, the countries said. They argued that mid- and lower-income member states were particularly hurt by the energy crisis and should be given preference.