Federal Republic of Germany v. Commission of the European Communities (Court of First Instance, Third Chamber, Extended Composition, 2007)

European Union

Jurisdiction: European Union

Principle law(s): EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) (Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC)

Side A: Federal Republic of Germany (Government)

Side B: Commission of the European Communities (Government)

Core objectives: Germany sought annulment of Commission decision rejecting ex post adjustments of the National Allocation Plan (NAP)

Summary

European Court concluded, inter alia, that while Member States have a degree of freedom in establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community, the Commission is authorized to verify that the adopted measures are consistent with Directive 2003/87. Furthermore, individual allocation of allowances for greenhouse gas emissions and the national allocation plan (NAP) are open to amendment under Article 11(1) of Directive 2003/87. The Court also noted that ex-post adjustments of allowances allocated by a NAP do not harm the principal objective of Directive 2003/87.

Case documents

Judgment (English)

Related laws and policies

This law implements European Union legislation

EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) (Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC)

Passed in 2003 Legislative

This Directive establishes a Community GHG emissions trading scheme from 2005, to enable the Community and the Member States to meet their Kyoto Protocol commitments. Directive 2004/101/EC reinforces the link between the EU's emission allowance trading scheme and the Kyoto Protocol by making the ...