Agreement on linking the emissions trading systems of the EU and Switzerland

On 5 December, the Joint Committee established by the Agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation on the Linking of their Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Systems adopted a Decision that amends Annexes I and II to the Linking Agreement.

Decision 2/2019 of the Joint Committee updates the Annexes that contain the essential elements ensuring that the EU ETS and the Swiss ETS are compatible in accordance with Article 25 of the EU ETS Directive (Directive 2003/87/EC). Since this is now the case, all conditions for linking as set out in the Linking Agreement are fulfilled.

Following the meeting on 5 December, the Parties exchanged their instruments of ratification or approval. The Linking Agreement will enter into force on 1 January 2020. Further information on its implementation and implications are available from ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ets/markets_en .

With a view to informing the public on the implementation of the Linking Agreement and its consequences, the Commission is publishing the second part of Frequently Asked Questions that supplements the first part published in October.

Read more:

• Press release
• International Carbon Market
• Decision 2/2019 of the Joint Committee
• Frequently Asked Questions - Part 2
• Linking Agreement