Emission trading: Commission approved all national allocation plans (NAPs)

On June 20, 2005 the European Commission approved the Greek NAP for CO2 emission allowances. Thus, all 25 allocation plans are approved for the first allocation period 2005 to 2007 and the Commission accepted the application of 6.57 billion emission allowances for the allocation period 2005 to 2007.

On June 20, 2005 the European Commission approved the Greek NAP for CO2 emission allowances. Thus, all 25 allocation plans are approved for the first allocation period 2005 to 2007 and the Commission accepted the application of 6.57 billion emission allowances for the allocation period 2005 to 2007. In 14 of the 25 allocation plans the Commission demanded for reductions of allocations intended by the national governments of totally 290 million emission allowances, respectively 4 % of the total quantity. In total, 11,400 installations are involved.

In Europe, the power generators obtained more than half of all allowances. Based on the needs - without particular CO2 reduction measures - the shortage of the power generators amounts to 100 million emission allowances in Europe per year.

According to a statement of the DEHSt (German Emission Trading Body) 1,171 million emission allowances have been allocated to 1,236 power plants (67 % of the plants participating in Germany) for 2005 to 2007, these are 79 % of the issued allowances.

In the meantime, the emission trading has been started, but up to now, necessary registers for an active participation have been established in 8 member countries, only. At the EEX European Energy Exchange in Leipzig the current stock exchange price for emission allowances rose from initially about 5 EURO per t CO2 to temporarily nearly 30 EURO per t CO2 and the current price is about 20 EURO per t CO2.