MEP Jorge Buxadé Villalba (PfE) has submitted a written parliamentary question to the European Commission, arguing that planned cuts to free emission allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) will disproportionately damage Spain's ceramic industry, concentrated in the Valencia region. The MEP claims the sector faces additional costs exceeding EUR 180 million due to a 34% reduction in free allocations for 2026-2030, and questions the rationale for maintaining measures he says harm EU industry and employment.
The question, filed on 15 April 2026 under Rule 144, targets the Commission's recent proposals to mitigate ETS adverse effects, which Buxadé interprets as an admission that the system is not viable. He asks which foreign state would benefit most from the policy, whether the Commission will take specific action to protect the Spanish ceramic sector, and which interest groups influenced the decision to prioritise tightening the ETS over industry concerns.
Buxadé's question reflects a broader cleavage between environmental objectives and industrial competitiveness, with the ceramic sector—a major employer in Valencia—facing higher compliance costs that could undermine its global market position. The MEP's framing suggests that the Commission's own mitigation proposals acknowledge the ETS's negative impact, yet the planned cuts persist.
Under European Parliament rules, the Commission is expected to respond within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal whether the EU executive is open to adjusting free allocation reductions for vulnerable sectors or maintaining its current trajectory. The question also highlights tensions between EU climate policy and member state industrial interests, particularly in regions reliant on energy-intensive manufacturing.
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