In mid-July, the European Commission will present proposals for changes to the EU ETS. This follows an intense debate, which has been ongoing for months, on the scheme’s impact on energy prices and the competitiveness of the European economy.

In Poland, criticism of the EU ETS is particularly vocal. This stems from the high reliance on fossil fuels in the energy sector and industry. The modernisation challenges associated with this carry the risk of increased costs for purchasing CO₂ emission allowances.

At the same time, the EU ETS has been an important source of revenue for the state budget for years. It also supports the financing of the energy transition for Polish businesses and households.

The Institute for Reforms has been actively participating in the debate on the functioning of the system for several years. At the end of 2025, we published an analysis of how revenue from the EU ETS was utilised by the system’s largest participants, including Poland. In March 2026, we published a report containing a forecast of revenue from the ETS2 system and proposals for the use of these funds.

Building on this work, in our latest publication, ‘Overt Costs, Hidden Benefits: The Financial Balance Sheet of Poland’s Participation in the EU ETS’, we analyse the balance of costs and revenues from the EU ETS in Poland since the system’s inception. We also discuss forecasts for available funding up to 2040 and the significance of these funds for the stability of public finances.

During the webinar, we will present the main findings from this publication and invite participants to discuss the functioning of the EU ETS in Poland in the context of the reforms planned by Brussels.