Contract with European Energy Exchange as EU ETS common auction platform extended until 31 December 2026

On 1 October, the European Commission extended the duration of the contract with European Energy Exchange AG (EEX) and its clearing system European Commodity Clearing AG (ECC) by one year for the services of the third common auction platform under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) (see also EEX press release).

The original contract was signed in 2020 and was scheduled to end in November 2025. In 2023, the ETS Directive was amended to create a new emission trading system (ETS2) for buildings, road transport and additional sectors. The auctioning of ETS2 allowances will start in 2027. To make the start of the auctioning of ETS2 allowances coincide with the start of the upcoming contract for the fourth common auction platform, the current contract needed to be extended by one year until 31 December 2026.

EEX was appointed as the third common auction platform following a joint procurement procedure between the Commission and the participating States: 25 EU Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Spain, France, Finland, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, The Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden) and 3 EEA-EFTA States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway). Auctions on the third common auction platform started in 2021. EEX auctions the general and aviation allowances for the participating States. It also auctions the general allowances that are earmarked to finance the Modernisation Fund, the Innovation Fund and the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

For more information:

• Regulatory update on the re-appointment of EEX as common auction platform
• EU ETS section of Commission website
• Website of the auction platform EEX