Economic impact of ETS implementation

The EESC's ECO section (Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion) has adopted in plenary an own-initiative opinion on the economic impact of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), particularly in the context of the Fit for 55 package and the inclusion of the maritime sector. The Committee supports the ETS as a tool to reduce emissions but warns that impact assessments need to be improved in such a way that the design of the ETS safeguard competitiveness, employment and cohesion across EU regions.

Key points

In the opinion, the ECO section:

• Supports the ETS as a key instrument of the Green Deal, but stresses that its impact on jobs, regional economies and sectoral competitiveness must be properly assessed.
• Warns of unintended consequences, including cost shifts impacting corporations and employment in other sectors too, investment risks and potential relocations, especially in the maritime and port sectors.
• Calls for improvements to the impact assessments of ETS design, including better economic modelling, ex post impact assessments, and a stronger focus on global coordination, notably through the IMO for shipping.

Additional information

EESC section: Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion (ECO)

Opinion type: Own-initiative opinion

Rapporteur: Krister ANDERSSON (Employers – GR I/Sweden)

Administrator: Juri SOOSAAR

Reference: ECO/671-EESC

Date of adoption by section: 4/7/2025

Date of adoption in plenary: 16-17/7/2025

Contact

ECO Secretariat

Email: eco@eesc.europa.eu

Administrator: Juri SOOSAAR