5 April 2006 - Member
States are looking to improve and harmonise ways
of running the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS),
according to a report released today by the European
Environment Agency in Copenhagen. The report,
'Application of the Emissions Trading Directive
by EU Member States', covers the first four months
of the Emission Trading Scheme's operation in
2005 and provides the first comprehensive picture
of how Member States are putting the Scheme into
practice.
Based on a reporting obligation
in the Directive, Member States completed a questionnaire
for the European Commission. Their responses deal
with practical issues related to the running of
the Scheme, such as: the size of the Scheme; which
national authorities are involved; how Member
States will ensure compliance with permits; how
the monitoring and reporting guidelines are applied;
how registries operate; how to treat new entrants
and closures; the legal status of allowances;
and access to information on allowances and emissions.
Member States were also invited
to make suggestions for improving the administration
of the Emissions Trading Directive, and harmonising
its implementation. It is hoped that the report
will encourage a 'learning from best practice'
approach to running the trading scheme, and help
streamline the administration of the second period
of the scheme (2008-2012).
