COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2024/1316

of 13 May 2024

on the request for registration, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Save the Planet by shifting taxation from labour to greenhouse gas emissions’

(notified under document C(2024) 2938)

(Only the English text is authentic)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the European citizens’ initiative (1), and in particular Article 6(2) and (3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) A request for registration of a European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Save the Planet by shifting taxation from labour to greenhouse gas emissions’ was submitted to the Commission on 13 March 2024.

(2) The aims of the initiative as expressed by the organisers are divided into four measures calling on the Commission to: (i) ‘strengthen the Fit for 55 Package, with a view to achieving carbon neutrality by 2045’; (ii) ‘strengthen the EU carbon pricing system (ETS) by setting a faster phase-out of free allowances (2030) and allowing an uncapped carbon price also of heating or transport sectors as necessary to achieve emissions reductions goals’; (iii) ‘redistribute a substantial part of carbon pricing revenues to low-income households, shifting taxation from labour to the consumption of non-renewable resources, strengthening the EU’s social climate fund’; and (iv) ‘globally promote the establishment of a “Climate Club” where all participant countries adopt robust carbon pricing, with due consideration of redistributing carbon pricing revenues to low-income households’.

(3) An annex to the initiative provides further details on the subject matter, objectives and background to the initiative. It states that ‘[g]lobal warming is a challenge and an environmental and economic emergency’ and that carbon pricing ‘is the most efficient and effective way to reduce’ greenhouse gas emissions. The organisers therefore consider that a ‘more robust carbon pricing system is needed’ and that carbon pricing revenues should be redistributed to low-income households. The annex also refers to the Climate Club and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

(4) An additional document reproducing the text of the initiative has also been submitted by the group of organisers as part of their registration request.

(5) As regards the objectives of the initiative, the Commission could adopt a proposal for a legal act concerning the first three measures based on Articles 191 to 193 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). In particular, as regards the third measure, the Commission could propose environmental taxation measures based on Article 192(2)(a) of the TFEU.

(6) As regards the fourth measure, the Commission could present a recommendation for a Council decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations for binding international cooperation in the form a ‘Climate Club’, based on Article 218(3) of the TFEU.

(7) For those reasons, the Commission considers that none of the parts of the initiative manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties.

(8) That conclusion does not affect the assessment of whether the concrete substantive conditions required for the Commission to act, including compliance with the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity and compatibility with fundamental rights, would be met in this case.

(9) The group of organisers has provided appropriate evidence that it fulfils the requirements laid down in Article 5(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 and has designated the contact persons in accordance with Article 5(3), first subparagraph, of that Regulation.

(10) The initiative is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious, nor is it manifestly contrary to the values of the Union as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union or to the rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

(11) The initiative entitled ‘Save the Planet by shifting taxation from labour to greenhouse gas emissions’ should therefore be registered.

(12) The conclusion that the conditions for registration under Article 6(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 are fulfilled does not imply that the Commission in any way confirms the factual correctness of the content of the initiative, which is the sole responsibility of the group of organisers of the initiative. The content of the initiative only expresses the views of the group of organisers, and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Commission,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Save the Planet by shifting taxation from labour to greenhouse gas emissions’ shall be registered.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the group of organisers of the citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Save the Planet by shifting taxation from labour to greenhouse gas emissions’, represented by Lorenzo MINEO and Clara PANELLA GOMEZ acting as contact persons.

Done at Brussels, 13 May 2024.

For the Commission

Věra JOUROVÁ

Vice-President

(1)

OJ L 130, 17.5.2019, p. 55

, ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/788/oj

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2024/1316/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)