The German environment ministry is willing to consider additional reforms to strengthen the EU ETS, but it said it favours supply-side measures, a ministry spokesman said on Wednesday, a preference that may clash with France’s idea for a carbon price corridor.

“In our view, the key principle of the emissions trade – i.e. managing the quantity of certificates – has to be kept,” Michael Schroeren, chief spokesman for German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks said by email.

“Establishing a market stability reserve is in line with that principle … it is crucial in our view that this reform is not put into question under any circumstance whatsoever. However, Germany is fundamentally open to any discussion if, how and when additional action is needed,” he added.

German environment minister Barbara Hendricks and her French counterpart Segolene Royal will meet in Metz, France, to discuss issues including the ETS on Apr. 7, Schroeren added.

He told Carbon Pulse that Germany expects to define its position on the European Commission ETS revision proposal – which does not contain any additional intervention plans ahead of 2020 – well in advance of a policy debate among all EU environment ministers in June.

Read our Dialogue for views on whether France’s price corridor plan will gain traction among EU lawmakers.

By Ben Garside – ben@carbon-pulse.com