The European Parliament’s Rapporteur on the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), MEP Peter Liese, wants commercial operators to pay for the costs of the ETS. He also wants revenues of shipping allowances allocated to a sector-dedicated fund. The European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) applaud the proposals.
Liese wants to introduce a binding clause in contractual agreements between shipowners and commercial operators to ensure that the latter pay for the costs of the ETS. In his proposal at least 75 per cent of the revenues generated by the shipping allowances are to end up in the dedicated fund.
ECSA has asked for these two elements to be included in the revised EU ETS and believes that the draft report is a good starting point for the future work of the European Parliament.
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‘Introducing a binding clause in contractual agreements between shipowners and commercial operators is at the core of ECSA’s position on the inclusion of shipping in the EU ETS,’ states Philippos Philis, ECSA’s President. ‘It will ensure the proper application of the polluter pays principle, and will incentivise the uptake of further efficiency measures and cleaner fuels.’
Bridging price gap between cleaner and conventional fuels
Sotiris Raptis, ECSA’s Acting Secretary-General, adds: ‘The sector-dedicated fund is essential to finance R&D projects and to bridge the price gap between cleaner and conventional fuels. Although the draft report needs to be improved on certain points and marks the beginning of a long legislative process, it is an essential step forward. ECSA looks forward to further engaging with the MEPs and the member states in the Council.’
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