Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called for the temporary suspension of the European Union's (EU) Emissions Trading System (ETS) to stabilize energy prices in Europe.
Polish state broadcaster TVP reported that Morawiecki proposed the suspension of the ETS system, the EU's main tool for both reducing carbon emissions and implementing climate policy, during a meeting between Morawiecki and the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Copenhagen on Wednesday.
The ETS is central to the EU's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Under the system, various sectors, especially industry, pay for every ton of carbon dioxide they emit.
'Why should we add another 90 or 100 euros to the already very high electricity prices in the form of ETS allowances? As soon as we secure energy for the whole of Europe and bring peace back to Ukraine, we can return to the system,' Morawiecki was quoted as saying by TVP.
During an energy summit in Copenhagen on Tuesday, Poland and the Nordic countries agreed to cooperate to achieve complete independence from Russian energy supplies.
The prime ministers of Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia and Finland, the German chancellor and the Lithuanian president signed the declaration.
The countries agreed to import fuel, mainly liquefied natural gas, from outside Europe and to increase energy production from renewable sources such as wind farms.
By Murat Temizer in Stavanger, Norway
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr