“It is possible to exit [the ETS]. This is a discussion we must have at the European level. If we want to improve the position of Poland and Europe in the world, the best solution would be to abolish the ETS at the European level,” said Karol Rabenda, Secretary of State at the Chancellery of the President of Poland, speaking on TV Republika.
The European Council summit begins today, where energy policy is expected to be among the key topics. According to President Karol Nawrocki and the opposition, Poland should strive either to abolish the ETS system or undertake a far-reaching reform. However, the government has its own plan, which is not supported by all members of the ruling coalition.
Should such a reform take place, the president’s circle already has proposals ready: introducing, among other measures, a substitute fee and a cap on the price of emission allowances, which would be set at €10 per tonne. If this level were reached, the system would begin to operate in a way that lowers prices, for example by releasing free allowances. The Presidential Palace also wants investment funds that treat emissions trading purely as a speculative tool to be removed from the market. In addition, it proposes maintaining free allowances for energy-intensive industries and completely abandoning the idea of introducing ETS2 for buildings and transport.
In response to the president’s proposals, Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that he has his own concept.
Today’s guest on the programme “First Conversation of the Day” was Karol Rabenda, Secretary of State at the Chancellery of the President. Asked about the ETS in the context of the presidential proposal aimed at lowering electricity prices, he noted that “we live in a legal environment in which the ETS exists. The president said he has an idea and a proposal on how to reduce electricity prices already now – under the current conditions. And under the current conditions, the ETS exists. Therefore, he proposed that ETS revenues should be used to reduce bills, which have been unfairly increased, with the costs shifted onto citizens.”
“A separate issue is whether the ETS should exist at all. When presenting that bill, the president said it was a temporary measure for the here and now that would allow bills to be reduced. The ultimate goal, however, is to exit this system, which is the source of high energy prices for citizens,” he continued.
Rabenda also addressed the question: “is it possible to exit the ETS?”
“It is possible under European law. It is also possible under Polish law. It is a matter of determination. One thing has changed. A few years ago, before the war, a certain approach to the ETS and climate policy was a kind of ideology. Today, this is changing. After the crisis – even the one before the war, when Putin turned off the gas taps to Western Europe and prices soared – everyone realized that this is not a market, it is politics. Long ago, the late President Lech Kaczyński said that Russia uses energy resources to influence other countries. This was confirmed even before the aggression. After the aggression, most EU countries, even those that supported climate policy, see that industry is leaving Europe and that Europe is becoming poorer. This is the main problem. This is not about attitudes toward environmental protection,” said the presidential minister.
He added: “it is possible to exit this system. This discussion must take place at the European level. If we want to improve the position of Poland and Europe in the world, the best solution would be to abolish the ETS at the European level.”
He also stressed that “the European Union needs a voice that is both courageous and grounded in truth. If we want to discuss how to improve Europe’s competitiveness, we must tell ourselves the truth, and such a courageous voice is the voice of President Karol Nawrocki.”