Czechia seeks emissions scheme delay as EU budget divisions persist

Czechia and its Visegrád partners, backed by Italy and Greece, have urged EU leaders to review the ETS2 emissions trading scheme and delay its launch until at least 2030. Germany and other countries opposed the proposal. Currently scheduled for 2028, ETS2 would cover fuels for road transport and building heating. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) said divisions over the EU’s next seven-year budget would likely delay agreement until February or March, beyond December’s target. Czechia wants to protect cohesion and agricultural funding. Talks continue on November 26. Today’s summit discussions focus on Ukraine and migration, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj attending.