Lawmakers on the European Parliament’s environment committee (ENVI) on Wednesday rejected a last-ditch offer by their industry committee (ITRE) counterparts to share control of the EU ETS reform file, increasing the chances of delays to the bill’s passage through the legislature.
ENVI’s MEPs dismissed the offer from ITRE to have competence over the portion of the bill concerning the Modernisation Fund, with only the centre-right EPP and far-right ENF groupings in favour, a parliamentary spokesman told Carbon Pulse.
The offer involved ITRE controlling substantially less than the carbon leakage issues and Innovation Fund it had also previously sought.
It is unclear whether ITRE will now revert to its initial demands, in a procedural battle that has lasted since September.
The issue will now be decided by the chairs of the parliamentary committees, which meet next on Thursday, though it will most likely be raised at their next meeting a week later.
Senior MEPs from both committees met separately with lobbyists this week as they gauge reaction to the European Commission proposal.
FACTFILE:
- Sharing competence increases the odds of delay as work is re-scheduled, and the bill may require 2/3 majorities from both bodies
- Both committees are cross-party but ENVI has a record of more climate ambition
- Parliament and member states must ultimately agree for the bill to be made law, and the earliest deal possible may be in Q4 2016
By Ben Garside – ben@carbon-pulse.com
