(AGENPARL) – Thu 22 May 2025 None [1] Press service ** European Parliament **
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Press release 22-05-2025 Plenary session   ENVI None [13] Parliament supports proposals to simplify EU carbon leakage instrument
• New de minimis mass threshold of 50 tonnes would exempt 90% of importers from EU carbon border adjustment mechanism rules
• Environmental ambition maintained as 99% of CO2 emissions from iron, steel, aluminium and cement imports would still be covered
The proposed changes to the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) are part of simplification efforts to reduce the administrative burden for SMEs and occasional importers.
Parliament today endorsed the Commission’s proposal, which is a part of the “Omnibus I” simplification package [14] presented on 26 February 2025. MEPs adopted only technical amendments for clarification purposes and supported a new de minimis mass threshold of 50 tonnes. This would exempt the vast majority (90%) of importers − mainly small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals − who import only small quantities of CBAM goods. The CBAM environmental objectives remain achievable, as 99% of total CO2 emissions from imports of iron, steel, aluminium, cement and fertilisers would still be covered by the rules.
For the imports covered, the changes also simplify the authorisation process for declarants (parties wishing to import goods subject to the CBAM), the calculation of emissions and the management of CBAM financial liability, while strengthening anti-abuse provisions.
Quote*
After the vote, rapporteur Antonio Decaro (S&D, IT) [15] said: “The CBAM is a crucial instrument to help the EU prevent carbon leakage and incentivise climate action outside the EU. I am therefore glad that Parliament decided not to reopen other provisions of the CBAM legislation. This approach enables us to simplify matters for companies without dismantling or weakening the CBAM. We will continue to work quickly to bring legal clarity and certainty to all CBAM stakeholders.”
Next steps*
MEPs adopted the text by 564 votes in favour, 20 against and with 12 abstentions. Parliament is now ready to start negotiations with Council on the final shape of the legislation.
Background*
The EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism [16] is the EU’s tool to equalise the price of carbon paid for EU products operating under the EU emissions trading system [17] (ETS) with that of imported goods, and to encourage greater climate ambition in non-EU countries. In early 2026, the Commission will assess whether to extend the scope of the CBAM to other ETS sectors at risk of carbon leakage [18] .
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[1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room
[14] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_614
[15] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/257122/ANTONIO_DECARO/home
[17] https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/eu-emissions-trading-system-eu-ets_en
[18] https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/eu-emissions-trading-system-eu-ets/free-allocation/carbon-leakage_en
[19] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/texts-adopted.html
[21] https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/en/procedure-file?reference=2025/0039(COD)
[22] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2025)772861
[24] https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en
[27] http://twitter.com/EP_Environment
[28] https://epspfo.europarl.europa.eu/epspfo/en
[29] https://epspfo.europarl.europa.eu/epspfo/en
[30] http://www.europarl.europa.eu/portal/en/legal-notice