It is unacceptable that Brussels would make the citizens pay for costs of the green transition

The EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) has been the subject of long-running heated debates. At a conference organized by Politico on the subject, Diederik Samsom, Head of Cabinet to Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for implementing the European Green Deal, confirmed that the Commission will present its ETS plan for buildings and transport in July. Samsom acknowledged that this measure ‘could hit poorer people with higher fuel bills’. According to MEP Edina Tóth, the Commission’s plan is unacceptable and she believes that climate policy measures should be implemented in such a way that overhead costs are kept to a minimum for citizens – that is, costs do not rise and economic benefits must come.

In response to the European Commission’s plans, MEP Edina Tóth emphasized that keeping overhead costs low was essential to increase the competitiveness of the European economy. According to the European Commission, by contrast, “price increases are inevitable and about efficiency”.

According to the MEP, the successful implementation of the green turnover is inconceivable without the support of the people, one of the conditions of which is the existence of low household energy prices. “An example of this is the Hungarian gas market, where consumers previously paid for gas above the EU average. The change was brought about by the measure of the Hungarian government, namely the reduction of overheads, as the aim of the Hungarian economic policy is to leave as much money as possible in the pockets of people and families”, she added.

The Fidesz politician believes that the European Commission would make it impossible to reduce overheads by reviewing the emissions trading scheme. According to MEP Edina Tóth, the Commission should support Member States in achieving their goals instead of restrictive measures. “The solution is more investment in green transition and more European funding”, she added.