Source: European Parliament
On 13 May 2025, ENVI Members adopted their position on the Commission’s proposal to simplify the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), which is the EU’s tool to put a fair price on the carbon emitted during the production of carbon-intensive goods that are entering the EU
The Commission proposed to simplify the CBAM regulation, which applies to imports of cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen. A key change is the replacement of the EUR 150 de minimis exemption by a 50-tonne annual mass threshold for four sectors (aluminium, cement, fertilisers, iron and steel), exempting 91% of importers while keeping 99% of emissions in scope. The proposal also streamlines authorisation procedures from national competent authorities, data collection, emission calculation and verification, financial liability rules, and recognition of carbon prices paid in third countries. As lead committee, ENVI voted on the amendments to prepare Parliament’s position which was adopted in plenary before the interinstitutional negotiations with the Council. The opinion-giving committees INTA and ITRE supported the Commission proposal without amendments, while BUDG has provided its budgetary assessment.