Emissions trading and EC state aid law

The EC scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading provides for a free of charge allocation of at least 95% of the allowances for the first trading period.

According to the Commission, State aid will, inter alia, always be involved if a Member State allocates more than 95% of the allowances free of charge, thereby foregoing public revenue. However, the Commission ignores that a free of charge allocation of allowances as such, too, constitutes State aid that is imputable to the Member States. By not requesting formal notification of the National Allocation Plans under Article 88(3) EC, the Commission seeks to avoid a strict examination of the State aid question. Considering “that any potential aid is likely to be compatible with the common market should it be assessed in accordance with Article 88(3) of the Treaty” is not sufficient for justifying such a State aid measure. Since the environmental objectives of emission trading can as well be achieved by e.g. auctioning the allowances, a free of charge allocation is not “essential” in the meaning of the exemption clauses in Article 87(3) EC. If the Commission embraces a pragmatic approach and decides to exempt such State aid on political grounds, its decision bears the danger of being annulled by the Court of First Instance.



Copyright: © Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH
Quelle: EurUP 05/2004 (Oktober 2004)
Seiten: 8
Preis: € 32,00
Autor: Prof. Dr. Christian Koenig
René Pfromm
 
 Diesen Fachartikel kaufen...
(nach Kauf erscheint Ihr Warenkorb oben links)
 Artikel weiterempfehlen
 Artikel nach Login kommentieren


Login

ASK - Unser Kooperationspartner
 
 


Unsere content-Partner
zum aktuellen Verzeichnis



Unsere 3 aktuellsten Fachartikel

Rechtliche und praktische Unsicherheiten bei der Durchführung des europäischen Klimaanpassungsrechts durch das Bundes- Klimaanpassungsgesetz (KAnG)
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (6/2025)
In the context of the European Climate Law (EU) 2021/1119), the Governance Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and the Nature Restoration Regulation (EU) 2024/1991, the KAnG came into force on July 1, 2024.

Transformatives Klimarecht: Raum, Zeit, Gesellschaft
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (6/2025)
This article contends that climate law should be conceived as inherently transformative in a double sense. The law not only guides the necessary transformation of economy and society, but is itself undergoing transformation.

Maßnahmen zur Klimaanpassung sächsischer Talsperren
© Springer Vieweg | Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH (5/2025)
Die Landestalsperrenverwaltung des Freistaates Sachsen (LTV) betreibt aktuell insgesamt 87 Stauanlagen, darunter 25 Trinkwassertalsperren. Der Stauanlagenbestand ist historisch gewachsen und wurde für unterschiedliche Zwecke errichtet.