European industry leaders call for ETS revision to protect competitiveness

European industry representatives and lawmakers are calling for significant revisions to the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to protect industrial competitiveness and support decarbonization.

In the Czech Republic, representatives from the Chamber of Commerce met with European Commission officials to discuss the impact of the ETS revision. Zuzana Krejčiříková, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Czech Republic, warned that the current system creates a competitive disadvantage against third-country manufacturers. She emphasized that the ETS should serve as a tool for transformation rather than a driver of deindustrialization, calling for predictable regulations that prevent the loss of jobs and production capacity.

In the European Parliament, German MEP Peter Liese has proposed an amendment to increase the share of ETS revenue redirected to industry. While the European Commission originally suggested allocating more than 50 percent of permit revenues to decarbonization, Liese’s proposal would require member states to invest 75 percent of these revenues into domestic industrial decarbonization. Liese also advocates for a more significant increase in free emission allowances, particularly for energy-intensive sectors at risk of relocating production outside the European Union.