France, Italy, and Slovakia have urged the EU to simplify its carbon border levy rules this year, calling for reduced red tape and standardized emissions calculations to ease the burden on businesses.
France, Italy and Slovakia have demanded the EU amend its carbon border levy this year to simplify the rules for businesses covered by the scheme, a document seen by Reuters showed.
The European Commission has already proposed changes that would exempt 90% of companies from the carbon border levy, which from 2026 will impose costs on imports of CO2-heavy goods including steel and cement.
The policy is designed to shield European producers against cheaper rivals in countries with less ambitious climate laws, and prevent them shifting investments abroad to countries including the U.S., where the Trump administration is aggressively rolling back regulation.
France and Italy, the European Union's second and third-biggest economies, demanded on Thursday that Brussels goes further in paring back the policy's administrative rules. This could include by letting companies use standardised calculations for the emissions produced by goods, France, Italy and Slovakia said in a joint paper seen by Reuters.
This would ease the reporting burden for companies covered by the rules, they said, echoing broader calls from some governments and businesses for Brussels to cut red tape to help struggling industries regain a competitive edge.
"The complexity of this system can lead to delays and a significant increase in management and operational costs for European companies," the paper said.
EU countries and lawmakers must negotiate and approve the Commission's proposed changes to the carbon border tariff in the coming months - giving them an opportunity to make further changes to the rules.
The three countries said Brussels should also consider giving European exporting companies free CO2 permits, to help them compete in global markets with rivals that do not pay pollution costs.
Through its bloc-wide carbon market, the EU requires manufacturers to pay for each ton of planet-heating CO2 they emit. China and some U.S. states also have carbon markets, but Europe's CO2 price is far higher than that of other major economies.
EU countries' environment ministers will discuss the three countries' proposal at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 30 May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The United Nations (UN) added Israel and Russia to a blacklist of parties suspected of committing conflict-related sexual violence on Friday (29 May). The move prompted Israel to announce it would sever ties with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
A group of Azerbaijani civil society organisations has called for increased scrutiny of Swiss building materials giant Holcim, citing court rulings and ongoing investigations linked to its subsidiary Lafarge's activities during the Syrian conflict.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says ongoing conflict, funding pressures and international travel restrictions are complicating efforts to contain a fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
Russia and Kazakhstan signed 15 agreements during President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Astana on Thursday (28 May), including deals on Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant and expanded oil cooperation with Russia.
As climate pressures and urbanisation accelerate worldwide, governments are increasingly investing in smart cities and villages to build more sustainable and resilient communities. Across the world, digital technologies are reshaping how cities and rural areas are planned and managed.
The UK is experiencing potentially record-breaking temperatures after forecasters confirmed some areas reached highs close to 34°C on Monday.
More than 100 people were killed in a violent storm that battered India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, with rain and hail, the state Disaster Management and Relief office said on Thursday.
Climate change has driven a record surge in wildfires across Africa, Asia and other regions this year, with scientists warning that conditions are likely to worsen further as the northern hemisphere enters summer and El Niño weather patterns intensify.
Destruction of the world's tropical forests eased in 2025 from a record high, a report showed on Wednesday, underscoring how decisive policy can help keep trees standing despite pressures from a warmer climate and expanding agricultural frontiers.
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