Minister: Czech Republic will seek opt-out from EU’s ETS 2 scheme

The Czech Republic wants the EU’s new emissions trading system for transport and building heating (ETS 2) to be voluntary for member states, Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura said on Czech Television. While scrapping the scheme entirely is unlikely, since some EU members plan to adopt it, Prague has won support from 17 states for reforms, including a price cap on allowances and trading adjustments.

Stanjura called this just the first step, saying the Czech government will push for further relaxation. Without changes, households could face steep hikes in fuel and heating costs within 18 months, potentially tens of thousands of crowns annually.