Malta reiterates its call for more detailed studies to include more non-EU Mediterranean ports in the ETS maritime extension

Minister Miriam Dalli affirms Malta’s readiness to work with the European Commission to seek regional solutions

Environment Minister Miriam Dalli once again called on the European Commission to carry out a more detailed assessment to include more non-EU Mediterranean ports under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) on maritime transport.

EU environment ministers discussed pending concerns on the implementation of the Emission Trading Scheme for the maritime sector during the Environment Council meeting in Luxembourg on Monday.

Minister Dalli reaffirmed Malta’s commitment to the measures adopted by the EU to tackle climate change. However, Malta has always raised the point that potential loopholes leading to unequal level playing field between EU ports and non-EU ports had to be addressed. More countries joined this call, asking the European Commission to manage the issue.

Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate Action, accepted the proposal for continued monitoring, and confirmed that the Commission, with the support of member states and other stakeholders in the ports, will continue monitoring and gathering information on the impact of the EU ETS on the overall competitiveness of the EU maritime sector.

“We will reach out to you to get the information you currently have available, and I think we should make sure that we continue that dialogue. If the information we’re gathering due to this close monitoring should be reason for additional action we should discuss it,” Commissioner Hoekstra said.

Minister Dalli confirmed Malta’s readiness to work with the Commission and the different Member states to closely monitor this matter and identify other avenues to resolve current concerns, pre-empting any repercussions. She also asked for a discussion on different avenues to support industry to mitigate risks to avoid carbon leakage.

Meanwhile, Minister Miriam Dalli urged for urgent regional and global solutions within the International Maritime Organisation to address the decarbonisation of the maritime sector to ensure a truly level playing field – a call which Malta consistently makes and will continue to make.