The European Parliament on Tuesday supported compromise amendments to the methane regulation. MEP Izabela Kloc (PiS) emphasizes that this solution is beneficial for Polish mines. “For the first time – in a very long time – reason has prevailed over ideology in this most radical EU institution,” she told the PAP after the vote.
The draft regulation assumes, among other things, a significant reduction in methane emissions from mines. For them, this means the need for major investments in technologies to capture it. Critics of the current form of the project, mainly a cross-party coalition of Polish MEPs in the European Parliament, pointed out that the emission limits it contains could push mines to the brink of bankruptcy. The restrictive provisions were defended by left-wing groups in the EP, with the exception of some Social Democrats.
Amendments by MEPs Kloc and Zalewska
The European Commission’s proposal sets a limit of 0.5 tonnes of methane per kiloton of coal mined. During the negotiations in the EP, MEPs Izabela Kloc (PiS) and Anna Zalewska (PiS) tabled a number of mitigating amendments to the document. During the negotiations it was agreed to raise the limit to 5 tonnes of methane per kiloton of coal extracted and to apply this threshold to the operator if one entity operates several mines.
In Tuesday’s vote, these amendments finally received a majority.
When voting on the “methane” regulation, the European Parliament adopted a compromise solution favorable to Polish mines. For the first time in a long time, reason has triumphed over ideology in this most radical EU institution. Something has happened that, according to EU logic, should not have happened. It can be said that the Poles stopped the EU waltz with mining picks and this is a kind of miracle on the Rhine
Kloc told PAP after the vote.
The amendments also succeeded in replacing the sanctions for breaching the provisions in the draft with fees that go to the budget of the member state and are then transferred to the mines for investments in technologies to reduce methane emissions.
A vote in the EP means that the European Parliament has a negotiating mandate to discuss the final form of the new regulation with the EU Council.
The European Parliament voted on #methane. With the joint efforts of Polish MEPs from different political groups, we succeeded! We return to Silesia with good news – Polish mines will be operational!
she wrote on Twitter Anna Zalewska.
Methane Ordinance with provisions to protect the Polish mining industry adopted. We made it
she emphasized in turn Jadwiga WisniewskaPiS MEP.
We got it! Parliament finally accepted the compromise amendments to the methane regulation. Contrary to EU policy, we succeeded in overturning the death sentence for Polish mines
she noted Isabella Clock.
Today the European Parliament supported a compromise on the methane regulation. During the negotiations, it was possible to increase the limits 10 times compared to the original proposals of the European Commission – from 0.5 to 5 tons of methane per 1,000 tons of coal extracted. I want to thank the Polish MEPs and the social side for their hard work for Polish interests!
she noted Anna MoscowMinister of Climate and Environment.
tkwl/PAP/Twitter
Source: wPolityce