At a Thursday EU summit, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he would block the meeting to prevent the European Commission from proposing the build‑and‑transport climate tax set for 2027, sparking a heated debate.
Competing Climate Tax Proposal
EU leaders are set to discuss the Emission Trading System 2 (ETS 2), a tax on the construction and transport sectors slated to take effect in 2027. The measure is expected to raise costs for drivers and homeowners reliant on fossil‑fuel heating, according to Polish media.
Tusk Threatens Summit Blockade
RMF FM journalist Katarzyna Szymańska‑Borginon reported that Poland intends to oppose a draft text calling for the European Commission to present a “framework review” of ETS 2 that would delay the regulation. Unofficially, sources state that if the Commission or a member state attempts to dilute the clause, Tusk is willing to halt the summit.
Central and Eastern European Opposition
Bloomberg notes that Central European states and Cyprus have urged Ursula von der Leyen to postpone ETS 2 until 2030. They argue that launching the tax in 2027 could trigger unintended social, economic, and political disruptions, especially in countries vulnerable to energy poverty.
