Challenge brought by Poland against Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community. In support of the action, the Republic of Poland raised four pleas. The first alleged an infringement of the TFEU on the ground that the Commission did not take into account the specificity of each Member State in respect of fuel. The second plea concerned an alleged breach of the principle of equal treatment on the ground that the Commission did not take into account the difference in situation between the regions of the European Union. The third plea alleged a breach of the principle of proportionality. The fourth plea alleged that the Commission was not competent to adopt the contested decision. The General Court rejected all four grounds and the action was therefore dismissed. In particular, the General Court held that “the determination by the Commission of the heat and fuel benchmarks by using the reference performance of natural gas may be regarded as objectively justified” (para. 58). 

Republic of Poland v. European Commission [ECJ 2013]

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Republic of Poland v. European Commission [ECJ 2013] - judgment

Filed

International

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Justice is the ethical and political framework that addresses fairness, including issues of responsibility, rights, and structural inequity.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

Tradable permits are market-based tools that grant permission for specific activities, frequently used to regulate emissions. These permits can be issued within a trading system to manage environmental impacts.

A target to reduce the prevalence of a greenhouse gas over a specific time frame

Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

The release of heat-trapping gases, primarily from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture and industry.

A long-lived, colourless gas, chiefly emitted from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and cement production.

Fossil gas, commonly known as natural gas, is a fossil fuel consisting chiefly of methane with smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and trace gases, found in underground deposits.

Coal is a combustible sedimentary rock formed from carbonised plant matter, rich in carbon and hydrocarbons, and occurring in several main types including hard coal and brown coal.

The activities of industries that transforms raw materials into finished goods through industrial processes.

The activities of industries involved in the production, distribution, and sale of energy, including electricity, gas, and renewables.

This sector includes firms and individuals offering specialised expertise in fields such as law, accounting, consulting, science and engineering.

Republic of Poland v. European Commission [ECJ 2013] - judgment

Target

Policy instrument

Renewable energy

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Finance