Czech PM Fiala in Brussels: EU should not set new climate targets for 2040

Brussels, 27 June (CTK correspondents) - Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said at Thursday’s European Union summit in Brussels that he did not think it was a good idea for the union to set further climate targets and adopt them by 2040. The Czech Republic disagrees, he said, and other countries, including Poland, have expressed a similar view. The European Commission is expected to publish a binding climate target for 2040 next Wednesday, which should cut CO2 emissions by 90 percent.

"We discussed what needs to be done to make Europe competitive. We talked about what is preventing us from being even more successful," Fiala said of the final debate held by EU leaders on Thursday, which focused on trade relations, energy and competitiveness.

"I said that I do not think it is a good idea for us to set further climate targets and to adopt the 2040 targets that the Commission is preparing," the Czech prime minister added.

Fiala also presented the Czech initiative on ETS2 emissions allowances to EU presidents and prime ministers, he said. Czechia and 17 other countries are calling for changes to the planned ETS2 emissions allowance system. The proposed revision includes, for example, capping allowance prices or changing the system for trading them.

The new ETS2 emissions allowance system is set to extend allowance trading to areas including road transport and building heating. Under current plans, it is due to take effect in 2027. Experts say the system could significantly increase household costs for energy and fuel.

Before the summit, Fiala said that the Czech government did not want to introduce the new allowance system because it would lead to further increases in fuel and housing costs. Czechia does not yet have majority support for scrapping the new system.