The new EU rules affect Switzerland
In the second half of 2022, many EU laws have removed important barriers, especially in the area of climate protection. These will also directly or indirectly influence Swiss politics.
CO2-Emissions in the EU must be reduced by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 and become climate neutral by 2050. (icon image)
Photo: Urs Jaudas
One of the biggest successes for the Czech presidency of the EU Council is the agreement between EU states and the EU Parliament on CO2-Border Adjustment System (CBAM) and Emissions Trading System (ETS) – the heart of the “Fit for 55” package. With this the CO2-Reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 and become carbon neutral by 2050.
After around 30 hours of negotiations in mid-December, an agreement was finally reached between the member states and the European Parliament. With CBAM, the EU wants to protect its companies from cheap competition from third countries that do not have high climate protection standards. In the future, importers will therefore have to pay for the import of CO2intensive products buy so-called pollution certificates.
The new EU regulation will initially apply to products such as cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen.
Tightening of emissions trading
Because in the EU itself, the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) against environmental pollution was introduced in 2005. For example, energy companies and energy-intensive branches of industry such as the steel and cement industries need to reduce emissions of climate-damaging gases such as CO2 pay by purchasing pollution permits. Now the ETS is also being tightened.
The total number of these certificates will be slowly reduced to give companies an incentive to emit even less greenhouse gases. The EU institutions also agreed to end free emission certificates for intra-European flights.
There was also agreement to introduce a second separate Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS II) for transport and buildings, which is linked to a social climate fund to help people on low incomes.
Consequences for Switzerland
As Switzerland has been participating in the EU’s emissions trading system since 2020, its companies are exempt from the CBAM. But it needs to adapt its emissions trading system. This also applies to the tightening of intra-European air traffic.
But the CBAM has the potential for considerable administrative work on the Swiss border. Because the EU has every interest in preventing circumvention. This makes them aware of the reporting obligations for importers and administrative regulations for importing from third countries.
On the other hand, Switzerland does not need to adjust ETS II, because the link between ETS and ETS II is not currently under discussion.
Combustion engine and other decisions
Of course, there have been other agreements between EU states and the European Parliament that could have a direct or indirect impact on Switzerland, such as those on climate-neutral new cars: most new cars with petrol and diesel engines will not be allowed into the EU from 2035 more to be allowed.
Also interesting is the agreement on the new rules for access to digital data. Investigators in the EU should have easier and faster access to electronic evidence such as email, SMS and chat to prosecute serious crimes.
In addition, the EU institutions have decided on their own satellite system for safe internet, bans on imports of cocoa and coffee from deforestation areas, a new product regulation on general product safety and much more.
All these agreements reached between EU states and the EU Parliament under the Czech presidency of the EU Council still need to be finally approved by both EU institutions before they can enter into force. This is usually considered a formality.
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