Directive (EU) 2018/410 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2018 amending Directive 2003/87/EC to enhance cost-effective emission reductions and low-carbon investments, and Decision (EU) 2015/1814 (Text with EEA relevance. )

‘3 The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 23 to supplement this Directive concerning the detailed arrangements for the auctioning by Member States of aviation allowances in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article or with Article 3f(8). The number of allowances to be auctioned in each period by each Member State shall be proportionate to its share of the total attributed aviation emissions for all Member States for the reference year reported pursuant to Article 14(3) and verified pursuant to Article 15. For the period referred to in Article 3c(1), the reference year shall be 2010, and for each subsequent period referred to in Article 3c, the reference year shall be the calendar year ending 24 months before the start of the period to which the auction relates. The delegated acts shall ensure that the principles set out in the first subparagraph of Article 10(4) are respected.’.

Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that, where installations carry out activities that are included in Annex I to Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council , the conditions and procedure for the issue of a greenhouse gas emissions permit are coordinated with those for the issue of a permit provided for in that Directive. The requirements laid down in Articles 5, 6 and 7 of this Directive may be integrated into the procedures provided for in Directive 2010/75/EU.

1 Sectors and subsectors in relation to which the product resulting from multiplying their intensity of trade with third countries, defined as the ratio between the total value of exports to third countries plus the value of imports from third countries and the total market size for the European Economic Area (annual turnover plus total imports from third countries), by their emission intensity, measured in kgCO2, divided by their gross value added (in euros), exceeds 0,2, shall be deemed to be at risk of carbon leakage. Such sectors and subsectors shall be allocated allowances free of charge for the period until 2030 at 100 % of the quantity determined pursuant to Article 10a.

2 Sectors and subsectors in relation to which the product resulting from multiplying their intensity of trade with third countries by their emission intensity exceeds 0,15 may be included in the group referred to in paragraph 1, using data for the years from 2014 to 2016, on the basis of a qualitative assessment and of the following criteria: (a) the extent to which it is possible for individual installations in the sector or subsector concerned to reduce emission levels or electricity consumption; (b) current and projected market characteristics, including, where relevant, any common reference price; (c) profit margins as a potential indicator of long-run investment or relocation decisions, taking into account changes in costs of production relating to emission reductions.

3 Sectors and subsectors that do not exceed the threshold referred to in paragraph 1, but have an emission intensity measured in kgCO2, divided by their gross value added (in euros), which exceeds 1,5, shall also be assessed at a 4-digit level (NACE-4 code). The Commission shall make the results of that assessment public. Within three months of the publication referred to in the first subparagraph, the sectors and subsectors referred to in that subparagraph may apply to the Commission for either a qualitative assessment of their carbon leakage exposure at a 4-digit level (NACE-4 code) or an assessment on the basis of the classification of goods used for statistics on industrial production in the Union at an 8-digit level (Prodcom). To that end, sectors and subsectors shall submit duly substantiated, complete and independently verified data to enable the Commission to carry out the assessment together with the application. Where a sector or subsector chooses to be assessed at a 4-digit level (NACE-4 code), it may be included in the group referred to in paragraph 1 on the basis of the criteria referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 2. Where a sector or subsector chooses to be assessed at an 8-digit level (Prodcom), it shall be included in the group referred to in paragraph 1 provided that, at that level, the threshold of 0,2 referred to in paragraph 1 is exceeded. Sectors and subsectors for which free allocation is calculated on the basis of the benchmark values referred to in the fourth subparagraph of Article 10a(2) may also request to be assessed in accordance with the third subparagraph of this paragraph. By way of derogation from paragraphs 1 and 2, a Member State may request, by 30 June 2018, that a sector or subsector listed in the Annex to Commission Decision 2014/746/EU in respect of classifications at a 6-digit or an 8-digit level (Prodcom) be considered to be included in the group referred to in paragraph 1. Any such request shall only be considered where the requesting Member State establishes that the application of that derogation is justified on the basis of duly substantiated, complete, verified and audited data for the five most recent years provided by the sector or subsector concerned, and includes all relevant information with its request. On the basis of those data, the sector or subsector concerned shall be included in respect of those classifications where, within a heterogeneous 4-digit level (NACE-4 code), it is shown that it has a substantially higher trade and emission intensity at a 6-digit or an 8-digit level (Prodcom), exceeding the threshold set out in paragraph 1.

4 Other sectors and subsectors are considered to be able to pass on more of the costs of allowances in product prices, and shall be allocated allowances free of charge at 30 % of the quantity determined pursuant to Article 10a. Unless otherwise decided in the review pursuant to Article 30, free allocations to other sectors and subsectors, except district heating, shall decrease by equal amounts after 2026 so as to reach a level of no free allocation in 2030.

5 The Commission is empowered to adopt, by 31 December 2019, delegated acts in accordance with Article 23 to supplement this Directive concerning the determination of sectors and subsectors deemed at risk of carbon leakage, as referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article, for activities at a 4-digit level (NACE-4 code) as far as paragraph 1 of this Article is concerned, based on data for the three most recent calendar years available.

1 By way of derogation from Article 10a(1) to (5), Member States which had in 2013 a GDP per capita at market prices (in euros) below 60 % of the Union average may give a transitional free allocation to installations for electricity generation for the modernisation, diversification and sustainable transformation of the energy sector. The investments supported shall be consistent with the transition to a safe and sustainable low-carbon economy, the objectives of the Union's 2030 climate and energy policy framework, and reaching the long-term objectives expressed in the Paris Agreement. The derogation provided for in this paragraph shall end on 31 December 2030.

2 The Member State concerned shall organise a competitive bidding process, to take place in one or more rounds between 2021 and 2030, for projects involving a total amount of investment exceeding EUR 12,5 million, in order to select the investments to be financed with free allocation. That competitive bidding process shall: (a) comply with the principles of transparency, non-discrimination, equal treatment and sound financial management; (b) ensure that only projects which contribute to the diversification of their energy mix and sources of supply, the necessary restructuring, environmental upgrading and retrofitting of the infrastructure, clean technologies, such as renewable energy technologies, or modernisation of the energy production sector, such as efficient and sustainable district heating, and of the transmission and distribution sector, are eligible to bid; (c) define clear, objective, transparent and non-discriminatory selection criteria for the ranking of projects, so as to ensure that only projects are selected which: (i) on the basis of a cost-benefit analysis, ensure a net positive gain in terms of emission reduction and realise a pre-determined significant level of CO2 reductions taking into account the size of the project; (ii) are additional, clearly respond to replacement and modernisation needs and do not supply a market-driven increase in energy demand; (iii) offer the best value for money; and (iv) do not contribute to or improve the financial viability of highly emission-intensive electricity generation or increase dependency on emission-intensive fossil fuels. By way of derogation from Article 10(1) and without prejudice to the last sentence of paragraph 1 of this Article, in the event that an investment selected through the competitive bidding process is cancelled or the intended performance is not reached, the earmarked allowances may be used through a single additional round of the competitive bidding process at the earliest one year thereafter to finance other investments. By 30 June 2019, any Member State intending to make use of optional transitional free allocation for the modernisation of the energy sector shall publish a detailed national framework setting out the competitive bidding process, including the planned number of rounds referred to in the first subparagraph, and the selection criteria, for public comment. Where investments with a value of less than EUR 12,5 million are to be supported with free allocation and are not selected through the competitive bidding process referred to in this paragraph, the Member State shall select projects based on objective and transparent criteria. The results of this selection process shall be published for public comment. On this basis, the Member State concerned shall, by 30 June 2019, establish, publish and submit to the Commission a list of investments. Where more than one investment is carried out within the same installation, they shall be assessed as a whole to establish whether or not the value threshold of EUR 12,5 million is exceeded, unless those investments are, independently, technically or financially viable.

3 The value of the intended investments shall at least equal the market value of the free allocation, while taking into account the need to limit directly linked price increases. The market value shall be the average of the price of allowances on the common auction platform in the preceding calendar year. Up to 70 % of the relevant costs of an investment may be supported using the free allocation, provided that the remaining costs are financed by private legal entities.

4 Transitional free allocations shall be deducted from the quantity of allowances that the Member State would otherwise auction. The total free allocation shall be no more than 40 % of the allowances which the Member State concerned will receive, pursuant to Article 10(2)(a), in the period from 2021 to 2030, spread out in equal annual volumes over that period.

5 Where a Member State, pursuant to Article 10d(4), uses allowances distributed for the purposes of solidarity, growth and interconnections within the Union in accordance with Article 10(2)(b), that Member State may, by way of derogation from paragraph 4 of this Article, use for transitional free allocation a total quantity of up to 60 % of the allowances received in the period from 2021 to 2030 pursuant to Article 10(2)(a), using a corresponding amount of the allowances distributed in accordance with Article 10(2)(b). Any allowances not allocated under this Article by 2020 may be allocated over the period from 2021 to 2030 to investments selected through the competitive bidding process referred to in paragraph 2, unless the Member State concerned informs the Commission by 30 September 2019 of its intention not to allocate some or all of those allowances over the period from 2021 to 2030, and of the amount of allowances to be auctioned instead in 2020. Where such allowances are allocated over the period from 2021 to 2030, a corresponding amount of allowances shall be taken into account for the application of the 60 % limit set out in the first subparagraph of this paragraph.

6 Allocations to operators shall be made upon demonstration that an investment selected in accordance with the rules of the competitive bidding process has been carried out. Where an investment leads to additional electricity generation capacity, the operator concerned shall also demonstrate that a corresponding amount of electricity-generation capacity with higher emission intensity has been decommissioned by it or another associated operator by the start of operation of the additional capacity.

7 Member States shall require benefiting electricity generators and network operators to report, by 28 February of each year, on the implementation of their selected investments, including the balance of free allocation and investment expenditure incurred and the types of investments supported. Member States shall report on this to the Commission, and the Commission shall make such reports public.

1 A fund to support investments proposed by the beneficiary Member States, including the financing of small-scale investment projects, to modernise energy systems and improve energy efficiency, in Member States with a GDP per capita at market prices below 60 % of the Union average in 2013 (the “Modernisation Fund”), shall be established for the period from 2021 to 2030. The Modernisation Fund shall be financed through the auctioning of allowances as set out in Article 10. The investments supported shall be consistent with the aims of this Directive, as well as the objectives of the Union's 2030 climate and energy policy framework and the long-term objectives as expressed in the Paris Agreement. No support from the Modernisation Fund shall be provided to energy generation facilities that use solid fossil fuels, other than efficient and sustainable district heating in Member States with a GDP per capita at market prices below 30 % of the Union average in 2013, provided that an amount of allowances of at least an equivalent value is used for investments under Article 10c that do not involve solid fossil fuels.

2 At least 70 % of the financial resources from the Modernisation Fund shall be used to support investments in the generation and use of electricity from renewable sources, the improvement of energy efficiency, except energy efficiency relating to energy generation using solid fossil fuels, energy storage and the modernisation of energy networks, including district heating pipelines, grids for electricity transmission and the increase of interconnections between Member States, as well as to support a just transition in carbon-dependent regions in the beneficiary Member States, so as to support the redeployment, re-skilling and up-skilling of workers, education, job-seeking initiatives and start-ups, in dialogue with the social partners. Investments in energy efficiency in transport, buildings, agriculture and waste shall also be eligible.

3 The Modernisation Fund shall operate under the responsibility of the beneficiary Member States. The EIB shall ensure that the allowances are auctioned in accordance with the principles and modalities laid down in Article 10(4), and shall be responsible for managing the revenues. The EIB shall pass on the revenues to the Member States upon a disbursement decision from the Commission, where this disbursement for investments is in line with paragraph 2 of this Article or, where the investments do not fall into the areas listed in paragraph 2 of this Article, is in line with the recommendations of the investment committee. The Commission shall adopt its decision in a timely manner. The revenues shall be distributed amongst the Member States and according to the shares set out in Annex IIb, in accordance with paragraphs 6 to 12 of this Article.

4 Any Member State concerned may use the total free allocation granted pursuant to Article 10c(4), or part of that allocation, and the amount of allowances distributed for the purposes of solidarity, growth and interconnections within the Union in accordance with Article 10(2)(b), or part of that amount, in accordance with Article 10d, to support investments within the framework of the Modernisation Fund, thereby increasing the resources distributed to that Member State. By 30 September 2019, the Member State concerned shall notify the Commission of the respective amounts of allowances to be used under Article 10(2)(b), Article 10c and Article 10d.

5 An investment committee for the Modernisation Fund is hereby established. The investment committee shall be composed of a representative from each beneficiary Member State, the Commission and the EIB, and three representatives elected by the other Member States for a period of five years. It shall be chaired by the representative of the Commission. One representative of each Member State that is not a member of the investment committee may attend meetings of the committee as an observer. The investment committee shall operate in a transparent manner. The composition of the investment committee and the curricula vitae and declarations of interests of its members shall be made available to the public and, where necessary, updated.

6 Before a beneficiary Member State decides to finance an investment from its share in the Modernisation Fund, it shall present the investment project to the investment committee and to the EIB. Where the EIB confirms that an investment falls into the areas listed in paragraph 2, the Member State may proceed to finance the investment project from its share. Where an investment in the modernisation of energy systems, which is proposed to be financed from the Modernisation Fund, does not fall into the areas listed in paragraph 2, the investment committee shall assess the technical and financial viability of that investment, including the emission reductions it achieves, and issue a recommendation on financing the investment from the Modernisation Fund. The investment committee shall ensure that any investment relating to district heating achieves a substantial improvement in energy efficiency and emission reductions. That recommendation may include suggestions regarding appropriate financing instruments. Up to 70 % of the relevant costs of an investment which does not fall into the areas listed in paragraph 2 may be supported with resources from the Modernisation Fund provided that the remaining costs are financed by private legal entities.

7 The investment committee shall strive to adopt its recommendations by consensus. If the investment committee is not able to decide by consensus within a deadline set by the chairman, it shall take a decision by simple majority. If the representative of the EIB does not endorse financing an investment, a recommendation shall only be adopted if a majority of two-thirds of all members vote in favour. The representative of the Member State in which the investment is to take place and the representative of the EIB shall not be entitled to cast a vote in this case. This subparagraph shall not apply to small-scale projects funded through loans provided by a national promotional bank or through grants contributing to the implementation of a national programme serving specific objectives in line with the objectives of the Modernisation Fund, provided that not more than 10 % of the Member States' share set out in Annex IIb is used under the programme.

8 Any acts or recommendations by the EIB or the investment committee made pursuant to paragraphs 6 and 7 shall be made in a timely manner and state the reasons on which they are based. Such acts and recommendations shall be made public.

9 The beneficiary Member States shall be responsible for following up on the implementation with respect to selected projects.

10 The beneficiary Member States shall report annually to the Commission on investments financed by the Modernisation Fund. The report shall be made public and include: (a) information on the investments financed per beneficiary Member State; (b) an assessment of the added value, in terms of energy efficiency or modernisation of the energy system, achieved through the investment.

11 The investment committee shall report annually to the Commission on experience with the evaluation of investments. By 31 December 2024, taking into consideration the findings of the investment committee, the Commission shall review the areas for projects referred to in paragraph 2 and the basis on which the investment committee bases its recommendations.

12 The Commission shall adopt implementing acts concerning detailed rules on the operation of the Modernisation Fund. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 22a(2).’.

Allowances issued from 1 January 2013 onwards shall be valid indefinitely. Allowances issued from 1 January 2021 onwards shall include an indication showing in which ten-year period beginning from 1 January 2021 they were issued, and be valid for emissions from the first year of that period onwards.’.

The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 23 to amend, where appropriate, the Annexes to this Directive, with the exception of Annexes I, IIa and IIb, in the light of the reports provided for in Article 21 and of the experience of the application of this Directive. Annexes IV and V may be amended in order to improve the monitoring, reporting and verification of emissions.’.

1 The Commission shall be assisted by the Climate Change Committee established by Article 26 of Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council . That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council .

2 Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply. Where the committee delivers no opinion, the Commission shall not adopt the draft implementing act and the third subparagraph of Article 5(4) of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

1 The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.

2 The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Articles 3d(3), 10(4), 10a(1) and (8), 10b(5), 19(3), Article 22, Articles 24(3), 24a(1), 25a(1) and Article 28c shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from 8 April 2018.

3 The delegation of power referred to in Articles 3d(3), 10(4), 10a(1) and (8), 10b(5), 19(3), Article 22, Articles 24(3), 24a(1), 25a(1) and Article 28c may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

4 Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making .

5 As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.

6 A delegated act adopted pursuant to Articles 3d(3), 10(4), 10a(1) and (8), 10b(5), 19(3), Article 22, Articles 24(3), 24a(1), 25a(1) and Article 28c shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and to the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

1 Member States may exclude from the EU ETS installations that have reported to the competent authority of the Member State concerned emissions of less than 2500 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, disregarding emissions from biomass, in each of the three years preceding the notification under point (a), provided that the Member State concerned: (a) notifies the Commission of each such installation before the list of installations pursuant to Article 11(1) is to be submitted or at the latest when that list is submitted to the Commission; (b) confirms that simplified monitoring arrangements are in place to assess whether any installation emits 2500 tonnes or more of carbon dioxide equivalent, disregarding emissions from biomass, in any one calendar year; (c) confirms that if any installation emits 2500 tonnes or more of carbon dioxide equivalent, disregarding emissions from biomass, in any one calendar year, the installation will be reintroduced into the EU ETS; and (d) makes the information referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) available to the public.

2 When an installation is reintroduced into the EU ETS pursuant to point (c) of paragraph 1 of this Article, any allowances allocated pursuant to Article 10a shall be granted starting from the year of the reintroduction. Allowances allocated to such an installation shall be deducted from the quantity to be auctioned pursuant to Article 10(2) by the Member State in which the installation is situated.

3 Member States may also exclude from the EU ETS reserve or backup units which did not operate more than 300 hours per year in each of the three years preceding the notification under point (a) of paragraph 1, under the same conditions as set out in paragraphs 1 and 2.’.

The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 23 to supplement this Directive concerning the appropriate monitoring, reporting and verification of emissions for the purpose of implementing the ICAO's global market-based measure on all routes covered by it. Those delegated acts shall be based on the relevant instruments adopted in the ICAO, shall avoid any distortion of competition and be consistent with the principles contained in the acts referred to in Article 14(1), and shall ensure that the emissions reports submitted are verified in accordance with the verification principles and criteria laid down in Article 15.’.

1 This Directive shall be kept under review in the light of international developments and efforts undertaken to achieve the long-term objectives of the Paris Agreement.

2 The measures to support certain energy-intensive industries that may be subject to carbon leakage referred to in Articles 10a and 10b shall also be kept under review in the light of climate policy measures in other major economies. In this context, the Commission shall also consider whether measures in relation to the compensation of indirect costs should be further harmonised.

3 The Commission shall report to the European Parliament and to the Council in the context of each global stocktake agreed under the Paris Agreement, in particular with regard to the need for additional Union policies and measures in view of necessary greenhouse gas reductions by the Union and its Member States, including in relation to the linear factor referred to in Article 9. The Commission may make proposals to the European Parliament and to the Council to amend this Directive where appropriate.

4 Before 1 January 2020, the Commission shall present an updated analysis of the non-CO2 effects of aviation, accompanied, where appropriate, by a proposal on how best to address those effects.’.

‘5a Unless otherwise decided in the first review carried out in accordance with Article 3, from 2023 allowances held in the reserve above the total number of allowances auctioned during the previous year shall no longer be valid.’.

1 Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 9 October 2019. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof. When Member States adopt those measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such reference shall be laid down by Member States. By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the publication and reporting obligations contained in point (14)(f) of Article 1 of this Directive concerning Article 10a(6) of Directive 2003/87/EC by 31 December 2018.

2 Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main measures of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

When complying with their obligation as set out in the first subparagraph of Article 3(1) of this Directive, Member States shall ensure that their national legislation transposing Article 10, Article 10a(4) to (7), the first and second subparagraphs of Article 10a(8), Article 10a(12) to (18), Article 10c and Article 11a(8) and (9) of Directive 2003/87/EC, and Annexes IIa and IIb to that Directive, as in force on 19 March 2018, continue to apply until 31 December 2020. The list contained in the Annex to Decision 2014/746/EU shall continue to apply until 31 December 2020.

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.