# EUR-Lex - 52005DC0703 - EN

Important legal notice

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# 52005DC0703

**Communication from the Commission - “Further guidance on allocation plans for the 2008 to 2012 trading period of the EU Emission Trading Scheme” /* COM/2005/0703 final */ **

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[pic] | COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |

Brussels, 22.12.2005

COM(2005) 703 final

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION

“Further guidance on allocation plans for the 2008 to 2012 trading period of the EU Emission Trading Scheme”

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION

“Further guidance on allocation plans for the 2008 to 2012 trading period of the EU Emission Trading Scheme” (Text with EEA relevance)

1. INTRODUCTION

1. This communication provides guidance to Member States for the design of the national allocation plans for the second trading period (2008 to 2012). This communication is not part of the ongoing review of the Emissions Trading Directive[1] (“the Directive”), under which the Commission will produce a report to the European Parliament and the Council in June 2006, including proposals for improving the functioning of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (“EU ETS”), as appropriate. In preparing this review, the Commission acknowledges input from stakeholders on a wide range of issues on the functioning and impact of the EU ETS.

2. This guidance supplements the Commission’s guidance of 7 January 2004[2] for the implementation of the criteria listed in Annex III of the Directive. The previous guidance document contains in particular a technical analysis of the interpretation and interplay of the different criteria in Annex III and explains their role in the Commission’s assessment of allocation plans. Key messages from the first guidance document are summarised in Annex 3.

3. The Commission considers it necessary to provide additional guidance to consistently incorporate the lessons learnt from the first allocation phase. It notes that the general nature of the criteria listed in Annex III of the Directive leaves scope for their implementation and shares the view of Member States and many stakeholders that more guidance is needed[3] to ensure more coherent allocation plans for the second trading period.

4. In general, Member States and stakeholders also stress a preference for increasing harmonisation of allocation rules. The Commission considers it necessary to achieve more coherence in the second trading period, to the extent that the divergent progress by Member States towards their individual Kyoto targets allows for. In addition, further harmonisation is desirable beyond 2012. The Commission will consider these issues in the context of the strategic review of the EU ETS. On the basis of this review, the Commission will come forward with proposals, as appropriate, to improve the functioning of the scheme whilst safeguarding regulatory stability.

5. The Commission urges Member States to work towards simpler plans for the second trading period. Simple allocation plans boost the understanding of the instrument among stakeholders and also increase transparency and predictability. Member States should strive to keep the second national allocation plans as simple as possible, in particular with respect to allocation methods and rules on new entrants and closures. Member States should critically assess the necessity and efficiency of rules contained in the first round national allocation plans and keep only those deemed absolutely essential.

6. To further improve transparency of plans the Commission has developed and annexed a set of tables[4] which summarise in a standardised manner some basic information contained in a national allocation plan. The Commission regards these tables as an integral part of second round national allocation plans and expects Member States to make use of them. Furthermore, it urges Member States to continue using the Common Format[5] elaborated for the first allocation plans and, as in the first phase, will ensure a fully consistent assessment of all plans.

2. SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM ALLOCATION PLANS FOR THE FIRST PHASE (2005-2007) AND GENERAL LESSONS FOR THE SECOND PHASE (2008-2012)

7. The first phase allocation process spanned about 15 months, from the deadline for notification on 31 March 2004 until the last Commission decision on 20 June 2005. This was much longer than envisaged in the Directive. The approval process extended well into the first trading period which started on 1 January 2005. The late notification, approval and finalisation at national level of some plans introduced uncertainties not only for the respective national authorities and business but also for actors in the allowance market across Europe. This underlines the importance of timely notification of complete national allocation plans for the second allocation phase. The Commission considers that the three month period foreseen in Article 9(3) can only commence once a complete national allocation plan has been submitted. It therefore reminds Member States of their obligations to respect the deadline of 30 June 2006 in order to enable the completion of the second allocation process, including the subsequent final national allocation decision, well before the start of the second trading period on 1 January 2008. The Commission will not accept amendments to national allocation plans notified after the deadline of 31 December 2006 specified in Article 11(2) of the Directive, other than those required by the respective Commission decision on a national allocation plan.

8. Recognising the first phase as a learning period, the Commission assessed the first period allocation plans in a pragmatic manner. Some notable characteristics, summarised below, emerged from the first allocation process, resulting in a convergence of choices and approaches across Member States (for more details see Annex 4):

- More use of emissions trading is necessary to meet the Kyoto targets cost-effectively.

- Allocations have in general been more restrictive for power generators than other sectors covered by the scheme.

- Member States experiencing considerable excess in actual emissions with respect to their Kyoto targets intend to purchase a substantial amount of Kyoto units.

- The non-acceptance of ex-post adjustments is essential for the allowance market development.

- Some allocation plans are more complex than necessary and not sufficiently transparent.

3. FURTHER GUIDANCE ON SELECTED ISSUES FOR THE SECOND PERIOD NATIONAL ALLOCATION PLANS

3.1. Progress to Kyoto targets

9. In the 2005 progress report[6] the Commission has assessed the progress of Member States to Kyoto targets. In the comparison of 2003 actual emissions to allowed emissions in the period 2008 to 2012, a considerable number of Member States have gaps to close, some of significant magnitude. At present, it would appear that in particular Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain are not sufficiently on track towards meeting their Kyoto targets. In these Member States, more needs to be done during the second trading period to respect the Kyoto targets, which does not imply that further measures are not necessary in other Memer States as well. As it is unlikely that gaps can be closed solely by requiring emission reductions in the non-trading sector or relying on purchase of Kyoto units, the EU ETS needs to be used more to fully realise the potential of emissions trading.

3.2. Setting national caps

10. According to criterion 3 of Annex III (see Annex 2 attached to this document for the criteria of Annex III of the Directive), the quantity of allowances shall be consistent with the potential, including the technological potential, of activities covered by the scheme to reduce emissions. This means that the combination of the respective economic and technological potential to cut emissions sets an upper limit for the cap at national level.

11. Two of the most important factors driving emissions trends are economic (GDP) growth (with higher growth leading to higher emissions) and carbon intensity (emissions per unit GDP, with reductions in carbon intensity lowering emissions). In principle, the faster an economy grows, the faster new technologies are put to use and the faster the capital stock is renewed, thereby improving productivity and carbon intensity. The growing share of the tertiary sector and the parallel decline of the secondary sector experienced in European economies further contribute to this effect. Furthermore, the introduction of the EU ETS and the EU-wide carbon price in the trading sector will stimulate further reductions in carbon intensity.

12. Historically (in the period 1990 to 2000) carbon intensity reductions have balanced or even outweighed economic growth, which means that greenhouse gas emissions remained stable or declined. The following table indicates that this trend is likely to remain stable in the course of the ongoing decade (2000 to 2010). It needs to be emphasized that the estimates for the period 2000 to 2010 do not account for the incentives created by the first phase of the EU ETS and are therefore very likely to underestimate the actual reductions in carbon intensity during that period.

Table A: Historic and estimated GDP growth rates and carbon intensity trends[7]:

Annual GDP Change in % | Annual Carbon Intensity* Improvement in % | Combined Net Effect on Annual Emissions Trend in % |

Actual development 1990 to 2000 |

EU25 | 2.0 | 2.3 | -0.3 |

EU15 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 0.1 |

New Member States | 1.7 | 3.9 | -2.2 |

Estimated development 2000 to 2010 |

EU25 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 0.3 |

EU15 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 0.3 |

New Member States | 3.8 | 3.6 | 0.2 |

Note: * Carbon intensity expresses the relation between CO2 emissions to GDP.

13. In the analysis of the economic and technological potential to cut emissions, the Commission considers the annual GDP growth and carbon intensity reduction rates. The combined effect of these two factors gives the rate for the annual potential to reduce emissions. Starting from actual emissions in an appropriate year (e.g. 2003), assuming the trading sector to have a constant share in emissions and a similar potential to reduce emissions as the entire economy, the indicative cap consistent with criterion 3 in Annex III can be derived.

14. The cap for the first phase is therefore a starting point in determining and assessing the total quantity for the second phase both at EU and Member State level. Due to criterion 1 some Member States have to lower the first period caps to respect the Kyoto target. Other Member States need to maintain their first phase caps to align the plan with the potential to reduce emissions (criterion 3). Correspondingly, the annual average EU-wide ETS cap in the second phase should be lower than the first phase cap.

15. A number of Member States have a gap to close between their 2003 actual emissions and allowed emissions according to the Kyoto target. The total gap for these Member States is 296.5 million tonnes CO2 equivalent. This figure therefore represents the excess emissions which these Member States still need to reduce by using the instruments at their disposal to secure compliance with the Kyoto targets.

16. Member States with a gap to reach the Kyoto target should aim for a balanced mix of (i) lowering the allocation for the second phase and (ii) implementing additional measures in the non-trading sector, potentially supplemented by the (iii) government purchase of Kyoto unit credits. A balanced mix makes reductions practically more feasible and economically more efficient.

17. The table in Annex 1 lists the share of the emission trading sector expressed as the first phase allocation in comparison to 2003 actual emissions. At EU level the share amounts to some 45%. If the emissions trading sector were to contribute a proportionate share of the reduction in Member States with a gap to close, the second period total allocation in the EU-25 would be some 6% below the first period allocation, resulting in an annual average allocation of 2.063 billion allowances. To meet the Kyoto targets a reduction of less than 6 % would imply stronger efforts by the non-trading sector.

3.3. Substantiation of intended government purchase of Kyoto units

18. In view of the state of market development and constraints in the supply of Kyoto units, Member States face a considerable challenge to realise the volume of intended purchases. The decision by a Member State to purchase with public funds Kyoto units eases (as much as the purchase by companies under the terms of the Linking Directive) the need for domestic emission reductions.

19. For the above reasons, the substantiation of the intended government purchase of Kyoto units is crucial for the consistency of a national allocation plan with criterion 1 in Annex III. Therefore this was already an important element in the assessment of first period plans. Several Member States did not fully substantiate the intended purchase in the first period national allocation plans and some caps were accordingly lowered. Each Member State relying on the government purchase of Kyoto units, even if already indicated in the first round national allocation plan, thus needs to substantiate more thoroughly the intentions and demonstrate progress in realising these purchases. The Commission will base its assessment on the cumulative criteria outlined in Annex 5 and assess these aspects in a stringent manner. Where a Member State fails to satisfactorily fulfil the full set of criteria the Commission will require a proportional reduction in the cap proposed.

3.4. Substantiation of other policies and measures

20. The substantiation of the effects of implemented and additional policies and measures by Member States is crucial for a national allocation plan’s consistency with criterion 1 in Annex III of the Directive. In the first period national allocation plans Member States listed a number of existing and additional policies and measures. Each Member State relying on implemented and additional policies and measures, even if already indicated in the first round national allocation plan, needs to substantiate the effects and demonstrate progress in implementing or adopting them.[8] The Commission will base its assessment on the cumulative criteria outlined in Annex 6 and assess these aspects in a stringent manner. Where a Member State fails to satisfactorily fulfil the full set of criteria the Commission will require a proportional reduction in the cap proposed.

3.5. Guidance on criterion 12 – limit on JI and CDM compliance use by operators

21. Criterion 12 of Annex III of the Directive, as amended by the Linking Directive[9], states: “The plan shall specify the maximum amount of CERs and ERUs which may be used by operators in the Community scheme as a percentage of the allocation of the allowances to each installation. The percentage shall be consistent with the Member State’s supplementarity obligations under the Kyoto Protocol and decisions adopted pursuant to the UNFCCC or the Kyoto Protocol.”

22. Criterion 12 is mandatory in the sense that the national allocation plan must specify the maximum amount of CERs and ERUs that may be used for compliance purposes by operators in the EU ETS.

23. Criterion 12 states that the established percentage must be consistent with the Member State’s supplementarity obligations under the Kyoto Protocol and decisions adopted pursuant to the UNFCCC or the Kyoto protocol. The Marrakesh Accords state that “ the use of the mechanisms shall be supplemental to domestic action” [10] . No quantitative definition of the supplementarity obligations is available in the Kyoto Protocol or the UNFCCC or the decisions adopted thereunder[11]. It should also be noted that the meeting of the conferences of the parties to the Kyoto Protocol in Montreal took a range of important decisions to stimulate the use of CDMs, to which EU emission trading can contribute.

24. The supplementarity requirement is applicable to aggregate greenhouse gas emissions of a Member State and not separately for individual sectors. Therefore, the intended government purchase of Kyoto units also needs to be taken into consideration when evaluating the fulfilment of this requirement.

25. The Commission considers that Member States are free to choose whether to apply the limit individually in respect of each installation, or collectively to all installations. For greater flexibility, Member States are recommended to apply the limit for the entire trading period and collectively to all installations.

3.6. Issues related to new entrants and closures

26. The Commission considers it premature to draw conclusions and identify best practice with respect to new entrants and closures. Further details are specified in Annex 7.

3.7. Further guidance on allocation at sector and installation level

27. In fixing installation level allocations in the second phase, the Commission considers it necessary that Member States do not rely on first phase emissions or other first phase data. Otherwise installations which have actively reduced emissions in the first trading period are unduly disadvantaged by receiving in the second phase a smaller share of allowances than installations that have not reduced emissions during the first period.

28. By not relying on first phase emissions or other first phase data, early action is adequately recognised, which substitutes therefore for the set-up of an early action reserve or any other means of accommodating early action.

29. In order to reduce the complexity and administrative effort the Commission considers it inappropriate to maintain special provisions at installation level on process emissions.

30. As already stated above, the importance of achieving a simpler design of second phase national allocation plans compared to the first phase cannot be over-emphasized. Simpler allocation rules at sector and installation level increase the transparency of the allocation process and lower the costs in particular for small- and medium-sized enterprises covered by the scheme.

3.8. Further guidance on other allocation aspects

31. EU-wide benchmarking is not a sufficiently matured allocation method to be used for the second phase. Member states may however find appropriate use for benchmarking at national level for the installation level allocation in certain sectors and for new entrants, e.g. in the electricity sector. Experiences from such use will be examined by the Commission in the context of the review. The Commission is interested in whether the additional data requirements for benchmarking can be mastered and whether Member States consider the additional administrative effort worthwhile.

32. The Commission stresses that Member States can make use of auctioning within the 10%-limit permitted under Article 10 of the Directive in the second trading period. Making more use of auctioning would allow Member States and the Commission to collect more experience in applying this allocation method and to inform the strategic review with practical experience. It reminds Member States that proceeds from auctioning can, amongst others, be used to cover the administrative costs of the scheme and the government purchase of Kyoto units. Where Member States choose to auction allowances the Commission encourages them to specify the details of the auction process well in advance, preferably in the national allocation plan, especially as regards timing and quantities involved.

33. With respect to public consultation provided for by Articles 9(1) and 11(2) and criterion 9 of Annex III of the Directive, the Commission expects Member States to provide appropriate timelines to ensure a more effective public consultation with respect to the establishment of the second phase national allocation plan. Member States should aim to conclude the public consultation pursuant to Article 11(2) and criterion 9 of Annex III in time in order to respect the deadline of 31 December 2006. As there should be less time pressure in the preparation of the second trading period than was the case for the first phase, the Commission is confident that Member States will duly comply with this requirement under their own responsibility and discretion.

4. INTERPRETATION OF THE SCOPE OF ANNEX I OF THE DIRECTIVE

4.1. Combustion installations

34. With respect to the interpretation of combustion installation in Annex I of the Directive, the Commission notes that some Member States based the first phase national allocation plans on an interpretation which included all combustion processes fulfilling the specified capacity, regardless of whether the combustion process produces energy independently or as an integrated part of another production process. Other Member States applied variants of a more narrow interpretation, excluding some or all combustion processes as integrated parts of another production process.

35. The Commission regards this situation as highly unsatisfactory. From an Internal Market perspective it needs to be avoided that the same type of installation is covered in some Member States but not in others while applying the same Directive. A consistent interpretation and coverage of combustion installations across Member States in the second trading period is vital in order to avoid significant distortions of competition throughout the Internal Market.

36. The Commission considers the interpretation of combustion installation given in Annex 8 as the appropriate one. It understands that some Member States would have to include a number of additional installations, including large installations with significant emissions as well as some of the smallest emitters. However, in the light of the following chapter, the Commission recognises that it is not useful to include additional combustion processes which are typically carried out by small installations. In order to remove inconsistencies in the second trading period, all Member States should therefore in any case include also combustion processes involving crackers, carbon black, flaring[12], furnaces[13] and integrated steelworks[14], typically carried out in larger installations causing considerable emissions. The Commission reserves the right to take all necessary measures to avoid significant distortions. Details about the Commission’s interpretation of combustion installation are contained in Annex 8.

4.2. The smallest installations

37. Certain concerns have been raised by Member States and stakeholders with respect to the coverage under the Directive of the smallest installations, claiming in particular that the costs of participation for the smallest installations outweigh the benefits of being covered by the scheme. The Commission recognises that the benefits and costs of participation of certain small installations merit further consideration in the review of the EU ETS pursuant to Article 30 of the Directive.

38. The Commission underlines that some participation costs incurred by the smallest installations are “one-off” costs in the run-up to the first trading period, and will not occur in the future. In terms of recurring costs, which are largely related to the annual costs of monitoring, reporting and verifying emissions, the Commission pays particular attention to realising the potentials for cost savings for the smallest installations in the ongoing review of the monitoring and reporting guidelines. The Commission aims for entry into force of the revised guidelines by 1 January 2008, thus coinciding with the start of the second trading period.

39. Moreover, it reiterates the importance of using simpler allocation rules for the second trading period in order to benefit the smallest installations and look also at other aspects, besides monitoring and allocation, to alleviate the participation costs for these installations. The Commission is confident that this will further improve the relationship between benefits and costs for such installations of participating in the EU ETS.

40. The Commission invites Member States to explore the flexibilities identified in Annex 9 in the establishment of their second phase national allocation plans. It intends to consider in the review more comprehensively the scope of the Directive with respect to the coverage of the smallest installations, including the possibility to propose an amendment to the Directive to enable the removal of some small installations from the EU ETS in the course of the the second trading period. In that context, the Commission is considering the possibility that combustion activities below a certain size threshold, such as up to 3 MW, should not be counted for the purposes of the so-called aggregation rule. The Commission is also examining the possibility of removing the part of the aggregation rule that provides for the adding together of the capacities of activities that are operated by the same operator on the same site.

ANNEX

Annex 1: Background data

Member State | 2003 national greenhouse gas emissions | Allowed emissions annual average 2008-12 under Kyoto Protocol | ETS share[15] | First phase cap annual average 2005-07 according to Commission decisions[16] |

Austria | 91.6 | 68.3 | 36.0% | 33.0 |

Belgium | 147.7 | 135.8 | 42.6% | 62.9 |

Cyprus | 9.2 | n.a. | 62.0% | 5.7 |

Czech Republic | 145.4 | 176.8 | 67.1% | 97.6 |

Denmark | 74.0 | 55.0 | 45.3% | 33.5 |

Estonia | 21.4 | 40.0 | 88.6% | 19.0 |

Finland | 85.5 | 70.4 | 53.2% | 45.5 |

France | 557.2 | 568.0 | 28.1% | 156.5 |

Germany | 1017.5 | 986.1 | 49.0% | 499.0 |

Greece | 137.6 | 139.6 | 54.1% | 74.4 |

Hungary | 83.2 | 114.3 | 37.6% | 31.3 |

Ireland | 67.6 | 61.0 | 33.0% | 22.3 |

Italy | 569.8 | 477.2 | 40.8% | 232.5 |

Latvia | 10.5 | 23.3 | 43.4% | 4.6 |

Lithuania | 17.2 | 46.9 | 71.2% | 12.3 |

Luxembourg | 11.3 | 9.2 | 29.8% | 3.4 |

Malta | 2.9 | n.a. | n.a. | 2.9 |

Netherlands | 214.8 | 200.3 | 44.4% | 95.3 |

Poland | 384.0 | 531.3 | 62.3% | 239.1 |

Portugal | 81.2 | 75.4 | 47.0% | 38.2 |

Slovakia | 51.7 | 66.0 | 59.0% | 30.5 |

Slovenia | 19.8 | 18.8 | 44.3% | 8.8 |

Spain | 402.3 | 329.0 | 43.4% | 174.4 |

Sweden | 70.6 | 75.2 | 32.5% | 22.9 |

UK | 651.1 | 657.4 | 37.7% | 245.3 |

Total | 2190.8 |

Note: All emission figures are in million tonnes CO2 equivalent.

Annex 2: Criteria for national allocation plans referred to in Articles 9, 22 and 30 of Annex III of the Directive

1. The total quantity of allowances to be allocated for the relevant period shall be consistent with the Member State's obligation to limit its emissions pursuant to Decision 2002/358/EC and the Kyoto Protocol, taking into account, on the one hand, the proportion of overall emissions that these allowances represent in comparison with emissions from sources not covered by this Directive and, on the other hand, national energy policies, and should be consistent with the national climate change programme. The total quantity of allowances to be allocated shall not be more than is likely to be needed for the strict application of the criteria of this Annex. Prior to 2008, the quantity shall be consistent with a path towards achieving or over-achieving each Member State's target under Decision 2002/358/EC and the Kyoto Protocol. |

2. The total quantity of allowances to be allocated shall be consistent with assessments of actual and projected progress towards fulfilling the Member States' contributions to the Community's commitments made pursuant to Decision 93/389/EEC. |

3. Quantities of allowances to be allocated shall be consistent with the potential, including the technological potential, of activities covered by this scheme to reduce emissions. Member States may base their distribution of allowances on average emissions of greenhouse gases by product in each activity and achievable progress in each activity. |

4. The plan shall be consistent with other Community legislative and policy instruments. Account should be taken of unavoidable increases in emissions resulting from new legislative requirements. |

5. The plan shall not discriminate between companies or sectors in such a way as to unduly favour certain undertakings or activities in accordance with the requirements of the Treaty, in particular Articles 87 and 88 thereof. |

6. The plan shall contain information on the manner in which new entrants will be able to begin participating in the Community scheme in the Member State concerned. |

7. The plan may accommodate early action and shall contain information on the manner in which early action is taken into account. Benchmarks derived from reference documents concerning the best available technologies may be employed by Member States in developing their National Allocation Plans, and these benchmarks can incorporate an element of accommodating early action. |

8. The plan shall contain information on the manner in which clean technology, including energy efficient technologies, are taken into account. |

9. The plan shall include provisions for comments to be expressed by the public, and contain information on the arrangements by which due account will be taken of these comments before a decision on the allocation of allowances is taken. |

10. The plan shall contain a list of the installations covered by this Directive with the quantities of allowances intended to be allocated to each. |

11. The plan may contain information on the manner in which the existence of competition from countries or entities outside the Union will be taken into account. |

12. The plan shall specify the maximum amount of CERs and ERUs which may be used by operators in the Community scheme as a percentage of the allocation of the allowances to each installation. The percentage shall be consistent with the Member State’s supplementarity obligations under the Kyoto Protocol and decisions adopted pursuant to the UNFCCC or the Kyoto Protocol. |

Annex 3: Key messages from the first allocation guidance document

In January 2004, the Commission provided guidance to assist Member States in the preparation of the national allocation plans[17]. The guidance contained in that document on the implementation of the then eleven[18] criteria in Annex III to the Directive remainsrelevant for the second trading period 2008-2012. The Commission therefore wishes to reiterate the main elements.

Criterion (1) – Kyoto commitments The Commission understands “likely to be needed” as forward-looking and linked to the projected emissions of covered installations as a whole, given that this criterion refers to the total quantity of allowances to be allocated. The Commission understands the reference to the “strict application of the criteria in this annex” to comprise the criteria with a mandatory character or containing mandatory elements - i.e. criteria 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. In order to satisfy this requirement and fulfil all mandatory criteria and elements, a Member State should not allocate more than is needed, or warranted, by the most constraining of these criteria. It follows that any application of the optional elements of Annex III may not lead to an increase in the total quantity of allowances. |

Criterion (2) – Assessments of emissions developments Pursuant to Decision 280/2004/EC concerning a mechanism for monitoring Community greenhouse gas emissions and for implementing the Kyoto Protocol , the Commission undertakes an annual assessment of each Member State’s actual emissions and projected emissions for the period 2008-2012, in total and by sector and by gas. Criterion 2 requires the total quantity of allowances to be allocated to be consistent with these assessments. Consistency will be deemed as ensured, if the total quantity of allowances to be allocated to covered installations is not more than would be necessary taking into account actual emissions and projected emissions contained in those assessments. |

Criterion (3) – Potential to reduce emissions A Member State should determine the total quantity of allowances resulting from the application of criterion 3 by comparing the potential of activities covered by the scheme to reduce emissions with the potential of activities not covered. The criterion will be deemed as fulfilled if the allocation reflects the relative differences in the potential between the total covered and non-covered activities. |

Criterion (4) – Consistency with other legislation Criterion 4 concerns the relationship between allocations under Directive 2003/87/EC and other Community legislative and policy instruments. Consistency between allowance allocations and other legislation is introduced as a requirement in order to ensure that the allocation does not contravene the provisions of other legislation. In principle, no allowances should be allocated in cases where other legislation implies that covered emissions had or will have to be reduced even without the introduction of the emissions trading scheme. Similarly, consistency implies that if other legislation results in increased emissions or limits the scope for decreasing emissions covered by the Directive account should be taken of this increase. |

Criterion (6) – New entrants Under criterion 6, the national allocation plan should contain information on the manner in which new entrants will be able to begin participating in the emissions trading scheme in a Member State. The guidance proposes three ways in which new entrants can begin participating in the emissions trading scheme: by buying allowances in the market, by buying them in an auction, or by receiving them for free from a reserve set aside by the Member State. Having new entrants buy allowances in the market or in an auction is in accordance with the principle of equal treatment. |

Criterion (10) – List of installations This criterion will be deemed as fulfilled, if a Member State has respected its obligation to list all the installations covered by the Directive. A Member State has to indicate the total quantity of allowances intended to be allocated to each installation. |

Annex 4: Summary of experience gained from allocation plans for the first phase (2005-2007) and general lessons for the second phase (2008-2012)

1. More use of emissions trading is necessary to meet the Kyoto targets cost-effectively. Some Member States rely to a large degree on reductions in the non-trading sectors or on government purchase of Kyoto unit credits in the pursuit of their Kyoto targets. The intended government purchase of Kyoto units and the foreseen reduction efforts in the non-trading sectors have served in the first allocation phase as buffers resulting in moderate use of emission trading. In some Member States too much of the reduction effort may have been shifted to the non-trading sectors. Maintaining this imbalance would make Kyoto compliance more costly than necessary. Given that emissions trading is the most cost-effective instrument at hand, it should be used more in the second allocation round and beyond.

2. Allocations have in general been more restrictive for power generators than other sectors covered by the scheme. In most Member States, the allocation to the power generating sector, in relation to projected needs, has been more restrictive, i.e. more environmentally ambitious, than the allocations to the other sectors covered by the scheme.

3. Member States experiencing considerable excess in actual emissions with respect to their Kyoto targets intend to purchase a substantial amount of Kyoto units. Eight Member States announced in the first phase national allocation plans their intention to purchase with government funds in total some 500 to 600 million Kyoto units. Given the general outlook for Joint Implementation (JI) and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), the envisaged volume will be very challenging to realise. Furthermore, the Linking Directive will add private-sector demand to government demand for such credits. The Commission considers it as a matter of priority to improve the functioning of these mechanisms.

4. The non-acceptance of ex-post adjustments is essential for the allowance market development. The Commission did not approve the so-called ex-post adjustments envisaged by a number of Member States for the first trading period. This plays a vital role in the development of an efficient and liquid allowance market. The good functioning of the allowance market depends crucially on a stable and predictable allocation for the entire trading period in order to create stable incentives for installations to reduce emissions. For compliance purposes, companies can use the full flexibility of the scheme, be it via the allowance market or via company-internal transfers across borders.

5. Some allocation plans are more complex than necessary and not sufficiently transparent. In the first national allocation plans, some Member States created a complex set of special allocation rules: all Member States provided for a new entrants reserve and most also for some kind of administrative provision in the case of closure of an installation (i.e. no further allocation of allowances for the remainder of the ongoing trading period once an installation is closed). The design of new entrants and closure rules differs in detail. This contributes to a high degree of complexity and intransparency in the internal market and may result in unnecessary distortions of competition. Member States should consider simplifying all rules which they have added themselves and which are not essential for the functioning of the scheme. Simpler rules will help make national allocations plans more transparent.

Annex 5: Information requested to assess substantiation of intended government purchase of Kyoto units

Member States must substantiate the intended government purchase of Kyoto units and are requested to provide the following information in the national allocation plan:

(1) indicate the amount of Kyoto units planned to be purchased for compliance with the Kyoto target and any changes in this amount compared to the first national allocation plan;

(2) indicate the type of Kyoto units planned to be purchased, along with their respective projected or contracted purchase price;

(3) demonstrate the existence of relevant national legislation and budget allocations;

(4) provide information on the progress to date in realising the planned purchases, in particular the quantity of Kyoto units for which emission reduction purchase contracts have been signed at the time of notification of the second national allocation plan;

(5) indicate the envisaged time schedule of still to be effected purchases;

(6) outline the administrative arrangements put in place for realising the planned purchases, such as national programmes or purchase tenders for purchasing Kyoto units;

(7) indicate details about the contributions of multilateral or private carbon purchase funds and the expected delivery of credits;

(8) demonstrate the existence of contingency measures applicable in the event that planned purchases and signed purchase agreements result in the delivery of a lower than expected amount of Kyoto units.

Annex 6: Information requested to assess substantiation of other policies and measures

Member States must substantiate the effects of implemented and additional policies and measures and are requested to provide the following information in the national allocation plan:

(1) indicate the implemented policies and measures it considers as significant in sectors not covered by the EU ETS. For sectoral framework policies implemented (e.g. rural development plan, waste management plan) the plan has to provide the individual measures included that are considered to lead to greenhouse gas emission reductions. For cross-sectoral policies and measures, the plan has to indicate in which way those measures affect emissions in the trading and non-trading sectors. The information provided has to include the year in which the implementation showed full effect;

(2) indicate additional policies and measures not yet implemented at the time of notification which the Member State considers as significant. The plan has to present information on the status of planning or adoption of relevant legislation, agreements, incentive programmes, etc. and has to address the period for which full additional reduction effects are expected;

(3) indicate the approximate level of current greenhouse gas emissions represented by the activity targeted by each policy or measure and include quantified annual emissions reductions for the period 2008 to 2012 for the policies and measures indicated under the two preceding bullets. If no quantitative estimation of effects is available, the plan should explain why this information could not be provided and should include additional information why the policy or measure is considered to provide significant emission reduction effects;

(4) provide assumptions and methodologies used for the quantification of the effects of indicated policies and measures and provide references to sources for this information;

(5) present quantitative indicators to demonstrate the effectiveness of the policy or measure under the first requirement;

(6) indicate how policies and measures presented under the first two requirements are reflected in the greenhouse gas emissions projections presented in the plan;

(7) indicate any developments and trends of the activities targeted by the policies and measures provided under the first two requirements that could potentially counteract the reduction effects, e.g. increased production capacities or growing trends in consumption patterns;

(8) indicate any overlapping effects among important measures (e.g. effects of cross-sectoral measures and sectoral measures on the same activity) and how such double-counting effects have been eliminated in the estimation of quantitative reduction effects.

Annex 7: Issues related to new entrants and closures

1. The Commission notes that in the first trading period all Member States have set aside allowances for new entrants in a reserve and most adopted some form of closure provisions. The Commission did not raise objections to these administrative provisions and rules to the extent that they were not tantamount to ex-post adjustments.

2. The Commission notes further a multitude of detailed provisions governing new entrants reserves and closures, including transfer rule arrangements, adopted by Member States in the first allocation phase. This contributes to a high degree of complexity and intransparency in the internal market and may result in distortions of competition. At this stage, there is however insufficient practical experience with regard to the practical application of these rules.

3. For this reason, the Commission considers it premature to draw conclusions and identify best practice. In the case of new entrants’ reserves and closure and transfer provisions being maintained in the second trading period, the Commission recommends Member States ensure in particular that the new entrants reserve not be replenished upon exhaustion, that allowances not allocated to closed installations be cancelled or auctioned, and that there be no allocation at projected needs to new installations.

4. In the review report in June 2006[19], the Commission will consider alternative options (including the set-up of an EU-level new entrant reserve accompanied by EU-wide administrative rules on closure and cross-border transfer) to achieve further harmonisation with respect to new entrants and closure provisions.

Annex 8: Definition of combustion installation

1. The Commission considers the interpretation including all combustion processes, i.e oxidation of fuels, fulfilling the specified capacity to be the correct interpretation of Annex I of the Directive, for the following notable reasons:

2. Firstly, the term “combustion” is used in a wide range of Community legislation including not only the Emissions Trading Directive and the IPPC-Directive, but also the LCP-Directive[20] and the Sulphur in Liquid Fuels-Directive[21]. The meaning of combustion in the context of the Emissions Trading Directive has to be interpreted within the framework of other Community legislation where definitions are included.

3. The Sulphur in Liquid Fuels-Directive in its Article 2(5) and the LCP-Directive in its Article 2(7) define ‘combustion plant’ as “any technical apparatus in which fuels are oxidised in order to use the heat thus generated”. The LCP-Directive lists in the same Article a range of combustion plants which are specifically excluded from the scope of the LCP-Directive. The Emissions Trading Directive does not provide for such exclusion.[22]

4. Given that the Emissions Trading Directive makes no similar specific exclusions, the types of combustion installations excluded by Article 2(7) of the LCP-Directive are included within the scope of the Emissions Trading Directive where the threshold is met or exceeded.

5. Further guidance in support of this conclusion comes from Annex I of the Emissions Trading Directive itself. Annex I specifically excludes municipal and hazardous waste incineration facilities from the scope of the scheme. The combustion of e.g. hazardous waste is clearly an integrated part of the normal process undertaken by hazardous waste incinerators. If, in the absence of this specific exclusion, the Directive were to be interpreted as not applying to such installations where combustion takes place as an integrated part of the installation’s processes, municipal and hazardous waste installations would not need to have been specifically excluded as they would in any case have fallen outside its scope. Their specific exclusion is further confirmation that it is the presence of a combustion process with a rated thermal input exceeding 20MW that determines the Directive’s coverage of stationary combustion installations.

6. It is also commonly accepted that the term “combustion installation” for the purposes of the IPPC-Directive covers not just the power generation industry but also other industries where fuels are burned. Thus the heading “Energy industries” in the context of the IPPC Directive does not imply a narrow restriction of coverage of the term “combustion installations” to combustion processes that produce energy independently, but rather also includes combustion processes taking place as an integrated part of another production process. The heading “Energy activities” used in the Emissions Trading Directive, if anything, would be broader, so at least the same conclusion would apply. This therefore provides additional support for the argument that “combustion installations” in the Emissions Trading Directive not only covers combustion installations that are part of the energy industry, but also combustion installations in other industry sectors, including sectors that are not explicitly listed in its Annex I.

7. It is well-established that industries can fall under more than one activity category of the IPPC-Directive. Integrated steel works for example carry out several Annex I activities, and refineries include combustion installations of more than 50MW. Considering the similarities between the IPPC-Directive and the Emissions Trading Directive, there is no reason to take a different approach to the interpretation of the latter in this respect. In particular, a different approach cannot be justified by the separate listing of the steel and cement industries, given that both produce substantial CO2 emissions from (chemical) processes in addition to their emissions from combustion.

8. In the light of the above points, any installation, which includes one or more piece of stationary technical apparatus in which a combustion process takes place and that together on the same site and under the responsibility of the same operator has a rated thermal input exceeding 20MW, is therefore subject to the Emissions Trading Directive. This includes apparatus where the heat is used in another piece of apparatus, through a medium such as electricity or steam, and apparatus where the heat resulting from combustion is used directly within that apparatus, for example, for melting, drying, flares or units providing heat input to chemical reactors. The purpose to which the product of an activity is put should not be a determining characteristic as to whether or not an installation is subject to the Directive, as this would introduce subjectivity into its scope. Energy produced by combustion may be in the form of electricity, heat, hot water or steam, and the distance between the production of energy and its eventual use is not relevant for competent authorities to decide whether or not an installation is subject to the Emissions Trading Directive.

Annex 9: Interpretation issues related to the smallest installations

1. The Commission draws Member States’ attention to the fact that the so-called aggregation clause[23] contained in the second paragraph of Annex I of the Directive should be interpreted carefully so as to not cover certain small installations, without prejudice to the interpretation of such or similar wording in other Community legislation. In particular, the wording “under the same subheading” contained in this clause should be understood in the sense that a single activity falling simultaneously under several subheadings, e.g. both under “energy activities” and under a specific sectoral activity covered by Annex I of the Directive, such as “mineral industry”, is considered under the more specific sectoral subheading. Multiple activities of the same type should then be aggregated on the basis of that specific sectoral subheading, and not on the basis of all of the different possible activity descriptions that could apply. There is no basis for aggregating activities that fall under a different subheading, even though they may be part of the same installation.

2. Furthermore, flexibility at the discretion of Member States comes also from the wording “and/or” in the provision governing the manufacture of ceramic products in Annex I of the Directive. If Member States want to use this flexibility the Commission notes that this provision can be interpreted in a restrictive way so as to require the simultaneous presence of all mentioned sub-elements for the second trading period, again without prejudice to the interpretation of such or similar wording in other Community legislation. In this context, the Commission draws the attention of Member States to the Declaration of the Council and the Commission of 4 September 1996[24] supporting an interpretation of the same wording contained in Annex I of the IPPC-Directive, that it is up to Member States to decide as to whether one of the two criteria or both criteria need to be fulfilled at the same time.

Annex 10: Set of NAP common format summary tables

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Explanatory comments on NAP Common Format summary tables

Note: Grey fields are filled in automatically when using the Excel spreadsheets.

Table I: NAP summary table – target calculation

General description:

The purpose of this table is to provide an overview of key data relevant for NAP assessment. The gap (row C) between the Kyoto target (row A) and actual greenhouse gas emissions in 2003 (row B) is presented with necessary corresponding reduction measures (quantified in the fourth column of rows F-H, and totalled in row I). The gap is also expressed as the difference between the Kyoto target (row A) and the projected annual average total greenhouse gas emissions from 2008-2012 (row D). This figure is indicated in row E.

Specific remarks:

The second column makes a cross-reference to other data tables.

The fourth column refers to emissions or effects on emissions from measures recorded in the third column.

All rows with the exception of rows B and C contain annual averages relating to the second trading period 2008 to 2012.

Table IIa: NAP Summary table – Basic data

General description:

Table IIa gives an overview of historic and expected trends in various factors crucial to the calculation of a Member State’s potential to reduce emissions: namely, real GDP (row A), greenhouse gas emissions (row B) and carbon intensity (row C).

All three factors are expressed both in absolute numbers and in a trend index, with 2003 being the base year (2003=100).

Specific remarks:

In order to have a complete picture, the Commission invites Member States to provide annual data from 1990 to 2012. While re-stating some date in the public domain, Table IIa is of added value as an integral part of the NAP ensuring transparency and easy access to this information for stakeholders and other Member States.

Member States are required to indicate the sources of the information used, separately per year where relevant.

For the period 2008 to 2012, the Commission prefers annual data to better understand the development of these figures over time. In case a Member State can justify why such annual data are not available, the Commission would also accept the submission of only annual averages for the period 2008 to 2012, to be indicated in the respective column.

Table IIb: NAP Summary table – Basic data on electricity sector

General description:

Table IIb indicates the basic data for the electricity sector. The purpose is to obtain a comprehensive picture of total domestic electricity production (row A), imports (row B) and exports (row C), the electricity trade balance (row D, constituting the difference between rows B and C) as well as the shares of different fuels (gas, oil, coal, nuclear energy, and renewable energy) in total domestic electricity production (rows E-I).

Specific remarks:

Imports and exports (rows B and C) need to be disaggregated into the most important countries to/from which the export/import takes place, as well as a row with the remainder to other countries, and the total figure. These figures will allow the Commission to cross-check the plausibility of indications by individual Member States of their respective exports and imports, which would naturally need to be compatible with each other.

Member States are required to indicate the sources of the information used (separately per year where relevant) and are encouraged to provide annual data also for the period 2008 to 2012.

If a Member State can justify why such annual data are not available, the Commission requires explanation and at least the submission of data for a recent year and annual averages for the period 2008 to 2012. Similarly, Member States should provide data on the fuel mix as accurately as possible.

Naturally, the future fuel mix will depend on estimates, amongst others, of the allowance price. Member States are requested to indicate their respective estimates in the explanations in the NAP and also in Table X.

Member States should introduce also the target pursuant to Directive 2001/77/EC in Table 2b for the year 2010.

Table III: NAP Summary table – Recent and projected greenhouse gas emissions per common reporting format sector (without taking into account additional policies and measures in Table VI)

General description:

Table III relates recent and projected greenhouse gas emissions per common reporting format sector, as further specified by the numbers for the respective sub-sectors in the second column. Where indicated, the emissions should be indicated for total greenhouse gases and CO2 in the EU ETS.

The Commission recognises the technical difficulty to complete this table but stresses the importance of bringing together the categories in the UNFCCC-based common reporting format with the categories under EU ETS reporting.

Specific remarks:

The second column indicates the sub-sectoral reference under the Common Reporting Format (CRF).

The Commission recognises that some Member States may not have all the data available to complete Table III. If a Member State can justify why such annual or sectoral data is not available, the Commission requires at least the submission of data for a recent year and annual averages for the period 2008 to 2012 for as many sectors as possible, as well as aggregate figures (total and total in ETS).

CO2 emissions in the ETS sector depend on estimates, amongst others, on the allowance price. Member States are requested to indicate their respective estimates in the explanations in the NAP and also in Table X.

Table IV: NAP Summary table – Recent and projected CO 2 emissions in sectors covered by the EU emissions trading scheme

General description:

Table IV looks more specifically at the recent and projected CO2 emissions by installation or sector covered by the EU ETS, relating them to the activities mentioned in Annex I of the Directive. Certain activities have been aggregated where separate information is likely not to be available or necessary for the Commission’s assessment.

Specific remarks:

Emissions from combustion installations shall be calculated without emissions from installations also covered under the specific sectors of Annex I of the Directive being indicated in rows B-J. As a matter of example, where a combustion installation is also covered by the category “installations for the production of cement clinker ...” under the subheading “mineral industry” of Annex I of the Directive, emissions from that installation should fall under the entry “cement producing installations” in row E of Table IV, and should be omitted from row A “combustion installations”. Moreover, emissions from these combustion installations shall be disaggregated into the most important activities to be identified by each Member State, including flaring, integrated steelworks, crackers and furnaces.

For the period 2008 to 2012, the Commission prefers annual data to better understand the development of all sectors. Where a Member State can justify the absence of such annual data for certain sectors, the Commission requires at least the submission of data for a recent year and annual averages for the period 2008 to 2012 in as many sectors as possible. If a Member State can show this to be appropriate, certain sectors may be (dis-)aggregated; in particular coke ovens (row C) with metal ore roasting, sintering, pig iron and steel producing installations (row D). Where such data are not available on an annual basis, the Commission requires a justification and at least the submission of data for a recent year as well as annual averages for the period 2008 to 2012 for as many sectors as possible, as well as aggregate figures (total and total in ETS).

The amount entered in row J, column XI correlates to Table III, row O, last column. The amount entered in row K, column XI correlates to Table III, row N, last column.

Table V: NAP Summary table – Proposed allocation in relation to first period allocation (without additional policies and measures) in the sectors covered by the EU emissions trading scheme

General description:

For installations or sectors covered by the EU ETS, Table V indicates 2003 and 2004 actual emissions (columns i and ii) as well as the proposed second period allocation in relation to first trading period allocation (columns iii and iv). Column v indicates the proposed second period allocation as a percentage of the first period allocation. The same sectoral specification is used as in Table IV.

Specific remarks:

Emissions from combustion installations shall be calculated without emissions from installations covered also under the specific sectors of Annex I of the Directive being indicated in rows B-J. As a matter of example, where a combustion installation is also covered by the category “installations for the production of cement clinker ...” under the subheading “mineral industry” of Annex I of the Directive, emissions from that installation should fall under the entry “cement producing installations” in row E of Table IV, and should be omitted from row A “combustion installations”. Moreover, emissions from these combustion installations shall be disaggregated into the most important activities to be identified by each Member State, including flaring, integrated steelworks, crackers and furnaces.

For the period 2008 to 2012, the Commission prefers annual data to better understand the development of all sectors. Where a Member State can justify why such annual data is not available for all sectors, the Commission requires at least the submission of data for a recent year and annual averages for the period 2008 to 2012 in as many sectors as possible, as well as aggregate figures (total and total in ETS). If a Member State can show it to be appropriate, certain sectors may be (dis-)aggregated; in particular coke ovens (row C) with metal ore roasting, sintering, pig iron and steel producing installations (row D).

Table VI: NAP Summary table – Reductions expected by policies and measures other than the EU emissions trading scheme and which have not been taken into account for the "with measures" projection presented in Table III (Mt CO 2 eq)

General description:

Table VI gives account of greenhouse gas emissions reductions expected by policies and measures other than the EU ETS, which have not been taken into account for the “with measures” projection presented in Table III.

It classifies such measures into three categories: “under implementation” (columns i-iii), “adopted” (columns iv-vi), and “planned” (columns vii-ix).

“Under implementation” means that the implementation is ongoing, and that the measure is not taken into account for the "with measures" projections presented in Table III.

“Adopted” means that the measure has been adopted by the final instance at the relevant local, regional or national level, but it is not yet implemented.

“Planned” means that the measure is at least mentioned in a formal government document, but not adopted.

Each of these three categories is again subdivided into three columns: the expected average annual reduction (2008-12), on the one hand, in ETS sectors (columns i, iv and vii), and, on the other hand, in non-ETS sectors (columns ii, v and viii). The third sub-column (iii, vi and ix, respectively) indicates the year, in which the full or a substantial part of the effects of the respective measure can be expected (not necessarily the first year of implementation).

The rows shall contain the measures to be specified in the second column.

Specific remarks:

The Commission recognises that for some measures the disaggregation of the expected reductions into those occurring outside and inside the ETS presents a technical difficulty. It is however an important element for the Commission’s assessment.

Table VII: NAP Summary table – Government’s planned use of Kyoto units (Mt CO 2 eq) and status of implementation

General description:

Table VII gives a detailed overview on the government’s planned use of Kyoto units and the status of their implementation.

It subdivides the Kyoto units into ERUs from JI projects, CERs from CDM projects, and AAUs and other units from international emissions trading. The last column indicates the total of the three types combined.

The status of implementation is presented in the rows, as follows.

Rows A and B indicate the sum across the various degrees of implementation, with row A giving the total amount in the period 2008 to 2012 and row B the annual average in that period per type of Kyoto unit and as a total. The total annual average across all three forms of Kyoto units is equal to row H of Table I.

Row C indicates the most advanced degree of implementation, i.e. the quantity of units already paid for.

Row D gives a lesser degree of implementation, which is the quantity of units contracted, but yet unpaid (delivery pending start of UN ITL). Units partially paid for should be proportionally distributed between rows C and D.

Row E relates to the quantity with the lowest degree of implementation, i.e. the units neither bought nor contracted by the date of notification (Row E = Row A – Row C – Row D).

Rows F and G give additional information on the full budget appropriated to the first commitment period (2008-12), both the one currently available for 2006 (row F) and the one committed up to 2012 (row G).

Row H indicates the implied future price of Kyoto units, which is the sum of rows F and G, divided by the total planned purchase in row A.

Specific remarks:

The Commission prefers Member States to specify the breakdown into ERUs, CERs, and AAUs and others. In case a Member State can justify why such a breakdown is not feasible, the Commission requires at least the submission of separate figures for ERUs and CERs on the one hand and AAUs and others on the other hand.

Table VIII: NAP Summary table – Details on new entrants, closures and auctioning

Table VIII contains various questions relating to important information on new entrants, auctioning and closures. The questions should be self-explanatory.

Table IX: NAP Summary table – Further details on new entrants

Table IX asks for further details on a selected new entrant, e.g. a power plant with a rated thermal input of 100 MW.

In one scenario (second column) the fuel used is coal, while in the other (third column) it is gas.

Member States are then requested to fill in row 4 (forecast number of operating hours/year in the period 2008 to 2012), where such a forecast is relevant for the allocation under the new entrants rule of the Member State, and row 5 (annual allowance allocation in 2008 to 2012).

This information will allow the Commission to better assess the standards used in the allocation to new entrants and at the same time provide for more transparency.

Table X: NAP Summary table – Important assumptions on annual averages

In Table X, Member States are requested to quantify for the years 2005-12 their key assumptions on annual average figures underlying the establishment of the NAP, in particular for:

- the EU allowance price (in Euro);

- the price for crude oil (Brent);

- the price for natural gas;

- the coal price; and

- the exchange rate (for those Member States outside the Euro-zone).

Member States should use and specify common market standards for fuel prices, including the currency used. They should indicate in detail sources of data and methodologies. This information is necessary in order to ensure comparability of data and transparency.

Member States are invited to indicate further assumptions considered important and useful for the Commission’s assessment.

[1] Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC, OJ L 275 of 25.10.2003 p. 32–46, as amended by Directive 2004/101/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 2004 amending Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community, in respect of the Kyoto Protocol’s project mechanisms, OJ L 338/18 of 13.11.2004 p. 18-23.

[2] COM(2003) 830 final.

[3] On 1 December 2005, the Council invited the Commission to do its utmost to provide guidance early enough for the preparation of the second national allocation plans.

[4] See Annex 10

[5] COM(2003) 830 final, p. 25-29.

[6] Report from the Commission on the Progress towards achieving the Community’s Kyoto Targetof 15 December 2005, COM(2005) 655.

[7] Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, European Energy and Transport Trends to 2030, Appendix 2, January 2003, see website:http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/energy_transport/figures/trends_2030/index_en.htm

[8] In this regard, the Commission stresses the importance of allocation plans to be fully consistent with Member States’ obligations pursuant to Directive 2001/77/EC for the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market, OJ L 283, 27.10.2001, p. 33.

[9] Directive 2004/101/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 2004 amending Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community, in respect of the Kyoto Protocol’s project mechanisms, OJ L 338 of 13.11.2004, p. 18.

[10] Decision 15/CP.7, Art 1.

[11] The Commission’s proposal for the Linking Directive provided for such a quantitative definition (COM(2003) 403).

[12] Including off-shore.

[13] Including rock wool.

[14] Including rolling mills, re-heaters, annealing furnaces and pickling.

[15] The ETS share is calculated as the first period cap divided by 2003 national greenhouse gas emissions.

[16] These figures do not account for changes to the number of installations subsequent to the respective Commission decision (e.g. opt-ins or opt-outs of installations).

[17] Commission Communication COM (2003) 830 final, 7.1.2004.

[18] Directive 2004/156/EC (“the Linking Directive”) added a criterion 12 to Annex III to Directive 2003/87/EC.

[19] As provided for by Article 30(2) of the Directive

[20] Directive 2001/80/EC on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants, OJ L 309, 27.11.2001, p. 1.

[21] Directive 1999/32/EC relating to a reduction in the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels, OJ L 121, 11.05.1999, p. 13.

[22] Certain activities that are specifically excluded by the LCP-Directive are also excluded from the Emissions Trading Directive, such as “(h) any technical apparatus used in the propulsion of a vehicle, ship or aircraft” because the Emissions Trading Directive only applies to stationary technical units (Article 3(e)). The Emissions Trading Directive therefore covers neither transportation in general nor greenhouse gas emissions arising from traffic on the site of an installation.

[23] “2. The threshold values given below generally refer to production capacities or outputs. Where one operator carries out several activities falling under the same subheading in the same installation or on the same site, the capacities of such activities are added together.”

[24] Council Declaration of 4 September 1996 on Directive 96/61/EC of the Council on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control, 9388/96, Interinstitutional dossier No. 00/0526 (SYN)