The Council of the European Union has published a corrigendum to Regulation (EU) 2015/757 on monitoring, reporting, and verification of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport, correcting a translation error in the Slovak language version. The correction, dated 1 July 2026, changes the phrase "primeranou istotou" (reasonable certainty) to "primeraným uistením" (reasonable assurance) regarding an auditor's assessment of emission data. This technical amendment ensures alignment with the EU's policy to extend its Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to cover maritime transport, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping sector.
Document metadata
The corrigendum is a legislative act of the Council, specifically a rectification of the Slovak language version of Regulation (EU) 2015/757. The document is a mandatory legal instrument that corrects a translation error without altering the substance of the regulation. The change ensures that the terminology used in the Slovak version matches the intended meaning of "reasonable assurance" as used in other language versions, which is a standard auditing term.
Policy context and trade-offs
The correction is part of the broader EU effort to include maritime transport in the EU ETS, which requires accurate monitoring and verification of emissions. The term "reasonable assurance" implies a higher level of confidence in the auditor's assessment compared to "reasonable certainty," which could affect the stringency of verification. This technical adjustment ensures consistency across all EU languages, maintaining the integrity of the emissions monitoring system.
Impact on stakeholders
- EU regulatory bodies: The correction ensures uniform application of the MRV Regulation across member states, reducing legal uncertainty.
- Shipping companies: The change may require auditors to apply a higher standard of assurance, potentially increasing compliance costs for emission data verification.
- National authorities: Consistent terminology facilitates enforcement and cross-border cooperation.
- Environmental NGOs: Accurate verification supports the credibility of emissions reductions under the EU ETS.
Institutional follow-up
The corrigendum is a final legal act and does not require further action from other EU institutions. However, the European Commission may issue guidance to ensure consistent implementation of the corrected term across member states.