Von der Leyen defends EU carbon market after leaders call for revisions
Ursula von der Leyen defended the EU carbon market today following calls for its revision. She noted that existing safeguards can modulate high permit prices.
At a European Union leaders' summit on February 12, 2026, government leaders from several member states including Germany 
DE, Italy 
IT, and the Czech Republic 
CZ called for a revision of the European Union emissions trading system (ETS). This collective push for policy change coincided with a tumble in EU carbon permit prices, reflecting immediate market sensitivity to the potential for regulatory shifts. The ETS is widely described as the EU's most important climate policy, and any revision could have far-reaching effects on investment signals, carbon pricing, and national revenues across the bloc.
DE, Italy IT, and the Czech Republic CZ called for a revision of the European Union emissions trading system (ETS). This collective push for policy change coincided with a tumble in EU carbon permit prices, reflecting immediate market sensitivity to the potential for regulatory shifts. The ETS is widely described as the EU's most important climate policy, and any revision could have far-reaching effects on investment signals, carbon pricing, and national revenues across the bloc.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen publicly defended the system during the summit. She cited its critical role in driving clean tech investment and pointed to existing safeguards, such as the Market Stability Reserve, which are designed to maintain market balance. Von der Leyen also noted that the ETS has successfully returned €200 billion to national budgets, providing significant financial resources for member states.
