(fra Kommisjonens pressemelding 27.11.2025)

Commission adjusts market reserve rules to support a smoother start to the new carbon market for buildings and vehicles

Today, the Commission adopted a proposal to amend the Market Stability Reserve (MSR) Decision as regards the reserve for the new emissions trading system for road transport and buildings (ETS 2). This is a key step to deliver swiftly on the package of measures announced to ensure a gradual and smooth launch of the ETS2, on top of the strong safeguards already in place, and also to help accelerate early investments. The MSR is a long-term solution to the surplus of allowances on the EU carbon market aiming at rebalancing supply and demand as well as at making the carbon market more resilient to future shocks.

This proposal responds to the concerns raised by Member States and Members of the European Parliament on future carbon price levels and volatility in the new ETS2 carbon market. It introduces targeted adjustments to the MSR that would guarantee stronger intervention if the price should go above a certain level, reinforce the capacity of the MSR to operate in the longer term, and ensure earlier and smoother action to stabilise the supply of ETS2 allowances.

Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, who outlined the set of proposals in past Environment Councils, said: “Today, we are delivering on the commitments we announced in October. These measures further strengthen stability and affordability within ETS2 and set us on a more predictable path toward a low-carbon future. We are setting the right conditions to keep prices in check and intervene swiftly if they go too high.”

The proposed measure can be implemented without amending the ETS Directive. Following today's adoption, EU Member States and the European Parliament will need to agree on it before it can enter into force.

In addition, the Commission will keep working to rapidly deliver as well on the other measures on the ETS2 implementation framework. Regarding the start of the system, colegislators have introduced a postponement of ETS2 by 1 year as part of the 2040 Climate target negotiations, which now has to agreed and adopted before its application.

You can find more information on the amended market reserve rules online.