Politics · Italy · 7 hrs ago
Meloni seeks delay to EU carbon pricing expansion amid industry concerns
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged EU leaders to change the bloc’s carbon pricing plans during a summit in Brussels.
She was backed by Greece and leaders from Poland, Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia, while Nordic governments opposed changing the plans.
The dispute concerns ETS2, which is due to extend carbon pricing to transport and residential buildings from 2028.
Meloni’s group wants an assessment of the economic and social effects and a delay until 2030, saying higher costs could hurt industry.
Italy’s Confindustria business group warned that carbon costs could put 50,000 jobs at risk in the ceramic district around Modena.
The disagreement reflects different starting points: some countries have prepared for the expansion, while others remain more dependent on gas and less ready.
No compromise had been reached by 9 p.m., and leaders were still trying to resolve the dispute.
Giorgia Meloni urged the EU to delay the expansion of carbon pricing to transport and residential buildings from 2028 to 2030.
She and supporting leaders called for the European Commission to assess the expansion’s economic and social impact.
The proposal faced opposition from Scandinavian governments, which said a one-year delay had already been granted.
The debate began at 11:29 and was paused at 14:44, but no compromise had been reached by 9 p.m.
Italy’s Confindustria warned that emissions costs could put jobs and industrial sectors at risk.
- Who
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, backed by the Greek prime minister and leaders from Poland, Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia, opposed the expansion timetable. Scandinavian governments resisted a further delay.
- What
- Meloni sought to postpone the ETS2 expansion to 2030 and called for an assessment of its economic and social impact.
- When
- The debate was reported on 15 October 2026. It began at 11:29 and was paused at 14:44.
- Where
- At a European Council meeting in Europe.
- Why
- Meloni and her supporters said the expansion could harm industry and risk de-industrialisation. Scandinavian governments argued that a one-year delay had already been granted.
Meloni’s supporting bloc
Scandinavian governments
ETS2 timetable
Meloni’s supporting bloc
The bloc asked to delay the expansion from 2028 to 2030.
Scandinavian governments
They opposed another delay, saying a one-year postponement had already been granted.
Impact of carbon pricing
Meloni’s supporting bloc
The bloc sought an assessment of economic and social effects and warned of harm to industry.
Scandinavian governments
They rejected revising emissions costs, arguing that doing so would be a step backwards.
The debate over revising the ETS conclusions began at the Council.
The discussion was paused while diplomats continued talks in the corridors.
No compromise had been reached, and the dispute continued.
- Proposed ETS2 start
- 2028
- Delay sought
- 2030
- Debate began
- 11:29
- Discussion paused
- 14:44
- Jobs warning
- 50,000 jobs in the Modena ceramics district
- Italy’s PNRR energy transition funding
- 71 billion euros
What people are saying
the industrial massacre of entire economic sectors
we risk losing 50,000 jobs in the Modena ceramics district alone
We would like to know how these countries used the PNRR money for the energy transition