Regulation (EU) 2023/857 amending Regulation (EU) 2018/842 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement, and Regulation (EU) 2018/1999

Summary:

Regulation (EU) 2023/857 - adopted by the co-legislators on 19 April 2023 - introducing amendments to Regulation (EU) 2018/842 and Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 as regards the contributions of each Member State of the European Union (EU) to fulfilling the overall target of reducing the EU's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the period 2021-2030. This is a text with EEA relevance.

Further information:

Regulation (EU) 2018/842 - also known as the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) - lays down obligations on Member States as regards their minimum contributions to the fulfilment of the EU's commitments on reducing its GHG emissions in the framework of the Paris Agreement. It also laws down rules on determining annual emission allocations and for the evaluation of national progress towards meeting minimum contributions.

This Regulation assigns strengthened emission reduction targets to each Member State for buildings, road and domestic maritime transport, agriculture, waste and small industries. These targets recognise the different starting points and capacities of each country. The update reflects the increased ambition enshrined in the European Climate Law.

The proposal was unveiled by the European Commission on 14 July 2021, as part of the so-called Fit for 55 legislative package. The plenary of the European Parliament adopted its negotiating position on 8 June 2022. The Council of the European Union adopted a general approach to this file on 29 June. An informal agreement between the co-legislators on a compromise text for the proposal was reached on 8 November. This was formally endorsed by the Parliament on 14 March 2023 and by the Council 28 March. The Act was signed by the co-legislators on 19 April 2023 and published in the Official Journal on 26 April 2023.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

EurActiv: Opinion, 19/10/2021: How carbon payments can facilitate the EU’s new effort sharing targets https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/opinion/how-carbon-payments-can-facilitate-the-eus-new-effort-sharing-targets/

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 15/12/2021: 'Fit for 55' package: Revision of the Effort-Sharing Regulation - Initial Appraisal of a European Commission Impact Assessment https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2021)699465

LIFE Unify Consortium: Report, March 2022: Implementing the Effort Sharing Regulation at the national level. Lessons learned and recommendations from the LIFE Unify project https://caneurope.org/implementing-effort-sharing-regulation-at-national-level-life-unify-new-report/

Transport&Environment (T&E): Policy Update, 12/05/2022: EU Parliament to vote on future of national climate targets https://www.transportenvironment.org/discover/eu-parliament-to-vote-on-future-of-national-climate-targets/

European Environmental Bureau (EEB): Meta, 19/05/2022: Effort Sharing Regulation: MEPs vote for access to justice! https://meta.eeb.org/2022/05/19/effort-sharing-regulation-meps-vote-for-access-to-justice/

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): At a Glance, 01/06/2022: Revision of the Effort-Sharing Regulation https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2022)729439

Transport&Environment: Briefing, 02/06/2022: Council off track on the ESR. EU-27 ranking and recommendations for improvement https://www.transportenvironment.org/discover/council-off-track-on-the-esr/

Climate Action Network (CAN Europe): Press Release, 11/09/2022: EU's Fit for 55 Effort Sharing Regulation dwindles EU's climate ambition https://caneurope.org/eus-fit-for-55-effort-sharing-regulation-dwindles-eus-climate-ambition/

Social Europe, 22/12/2022: Legal challenges by NGOs, citizens key to climate battle https://www.socialeurope.eu/legal-challenges-by-ngos-citizens-key-to-climate-battle

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 16/02/2023: Revising the Effort-Sharing Regulation for 2021-2030: 'Fit for 55' package https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2021)698812

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News

EurActiv, 28/09/2021: EU countries urged to step up emission cuts in buildings, transport and agriculture https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/eu-countries-urged-to-step-up-emission-cuts-in-buildings-transport-and-agriculture/

EurActiv, 17/01/2022: Key EU lawmaker wants rules to prevent countries dodging emissions cuts https://www.euractiv.com/section/emissions-trading-scheme/news/key-eu-lawmaker-wants-rules-to-prevent-countries-dodging-emissions-cuts/

ERR News, 23/01/2022: EU rapporteur recommends fines for states that fail to hit climate targets https://news.err.ee/1608475265/eu-rapporteur-recommends-fines-for-states-that-fail-to-hit-climate-targets

Reuters, 21/04/2022: EU countries edge towards deal to share out emissions-cutting efforts https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-countries-edge-towards-deal-share-out-emissions-cutting-efforts-2022-04-21/

EurActiv, 09/11/2022: EU strikes deal on climate ‘effort sharing’ regulation https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/news/eu-strikes-deal-on-climate-effort-sharing-regulation/

Reuters, 09/11/2022: EU reaches deal on national CO2 emission cut targets https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/eu-reaches-deal-national-co2-emission-cut-targets-2022-11-09/

Euronews, 09/11/2022: EU agrees stricter rules for greenhouse gas emission cuts https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/11/09/eu-agrees-stricter-rules-for-greenhouse-gas-emission-cuts

Politico, 15/11/2022: EU accused of climate accounting tricks https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-accused-climate-accounting-tricks-cop27/

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Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2021)555: Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2018/842 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2021:555:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2021)553: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Subsidiarity Grid https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2021:553:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2021)611: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2021:611:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2021)612: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2021:612:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States (Effort Sharing Regulation) (2021/0200(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/0200(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Review of the Effort-Sharing Regulation https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-a-european-green-deal/file-review-of-the-effort-sharing-regulation

European Commission: Climate Action: Effort sharing 2021-2030: targets and flexibilities https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/effort/regulation_en

European Commission: Press Release, 14/07/2021: European Green Deal: Commission proposes transformation of EU economy and society to meet climate ambitions https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_3541

European Parliament: Press Release, 17/05/2022: Fit for 55: MEPs want stricter rules for member states’ greenhouse gas emissions https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220516IPR29657/

European Parliament: Press Release, 08/06/2022: Fit for 55: MEPs want stricter rules for member states’ greenhouse gas emissions https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220603IPR32153/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 08/11/2022: ‘Fit for 55’: EU strengthens emission reduction targets for member states https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/11/08/fit-for-55-eu-strengthens-emission-reduction-targets-for-member-states/

European Parliament: Press Release, 08/11/2022: Fit for 55: Deal on stricter rules for member states’ greenhouse gas emissions https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20221107IPR49205/

S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 13/03/2023: New Effort Sharing Regulation will be more ambitious and fairer thanks to S&Ds push https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/new-effort-sharing-regulation-will-be-more-ambitious-and-fairer-thanks-sds-push

European Parliament: Press Release, 14/03/2023: Climate change: Parliament votes to reduce member states’ emissions by 40% https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230310IPR77227/

Renew Europe EP Group: Newsroom, 14/03/2023: Renew Europe welcomes a clear "Yes" from the European Parliament on two more key drivers of the "Fit for 55" climate package https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2023-03-14/renew-europe-welcomes-a-clear-yes-from-the-european-parliament-on-two-more-key-drivers-of-the-fit-for-55-climate-package

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 28/03/2023: Fit for 55 package: Council adopts regulations on effort sharing and land use and forestry sector https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/03/28/fit-for-55-package-council-adopts-regulations-on-effort-sharing-and-land-use-and-forestry-sector/

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