Czech Republic to back Italian proposal to suspend EU Emissions Trading System

The Czech Republic plans to support an Italian proposal to suspend the application of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS 1) covering energy, heavy industry and aviation, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said after a government meeting on Monday. The issue is expected to dominate a meeting of the European Council, due to take place in Brussels on March 19–20.

Babiš also wants to propose a price cap and the exclusion of energy-intensive sectors from the system. He added that the Czech Republic would work with other countries to push through what he described as the only effective way to help European industry, especially in view of the impacts of the ongoing Middle East crisis.