{"id":3704,"date":"2026-06-22T16:58:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T14:58:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ireform.eu\/?p=3704"},"modified":"2026-10-23T12:43:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T10:43:39","slug":"pln-200-billion-from-the-eu-ets-for-poland-a-figure-that-goes-unmentioned-reform-of-the-system-offers-an-opportunity-to-maximise-the-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ireform.eu\/en\/pln-200-billion-from-the-eu-ets-for-poland-a-figure-that-goes-unmentioned-reform-of-the-system-offers-an-opportunity-to-maximise-the-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"PLN 200 billion from the EU ETS for Poland \u2013 a figure that goes unmentioned. Reform of the system offers an opportunity to maximise the benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Funding from the EU ETS in Poland has totalled over 200 billion zlotys since 2012, with a further PLN 200 billion available to the government until 2032. And we can secure even more in EU negotiations \u2013 according to a report by the Reform Institute <\/b>\u2018Overt costs, hidden benefits. The Financial Balance Sheet of Poland\u2019s Participation in the EU ETS\u201d<\/b><\/a>. In this new publication, the authors highlight the system\u2019s significance for public finances and analyse the balance of benefits and costs of the EU ETS. A shrewd approach to negotiations on reforming the system and the establishment of the Energy Transition Fund are among the most important steps Poland should now take.<\/b><\/h4>\n

The EU ETS: a significant source of funding for Poland<\/b><\/h4>\n

Contrary to opinions circulating in the public debate, the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is not merely a burden on Polish companies, but also a significant financial boost for the economy and the state budget. In 2024, funding from this scheme accounted for the equivalent of approximately 45 per cent of expenditure on the \u2018Family 800+\u2019 programme. Between 2019 and 2024, however, its value averaged around 7 per cent of total annual investment expenditure in Poland.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the revenue from the EU ETS for Member States comes from national auctions. These funds should be allocated to measures related to the climate and energy transition or \u2013 where necessary \u2013 to support energy-intensive industries in the face of rising energy costs. However, we often forget that the EU ETS finances EU funds of which Poland is one of the largest beneficiaries \u2013 including the Modernisation Fund and the National Recovery Plan (KPO) in the part relating to the REPowerEU plan\u201d \u2013 explains Dominik Madej, co-author of the Reform Institute’s publication.<\/b><\/p>\n

National auctions within the scheme and EU funds financed by the EU ETS have generated over PLN 200 bilion in revenue for Poland between 2012 and 2025.<\/p>\n

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Although this revenue does not account for a large proportion of total government expenditure, it has a noticeable positive impact on the state of public finances in Poland, including the level of the annual budget deficit.<\/p>\n

When compared with the main taxes, in 2024 funding from the EU ETS amounted to the equivalent of 10 per cent of VAT revenue, 30 per cent of personal income tax (PIT) revenue and nearly 50 per cent of corporation tax (CIT) revenue. In contrast, when compared with expenditure, it has in recent years exceeded Poland\u2019s spending on many individual sectors, including:<\/p>\n