EU Summit Derails as Right-Wing Bloc Fights to Delay Carbon Tax on Cars and Heating
The October 14 EU leaders' summit in Brussels was consumed by a three-hour dispute over the ETS2 carbon tax, delaying scheduled discussions on energy prices. Right-leaning nations, led by Italy and Poland, demanded a two-year delay or full scrapping of the law, which would price carbon in transport and heating from 2028. While the proposal was rejected by a majority, the clash highlights deepening tensions between climate goals and household cost concerns. The conflict also reflects broader political shifts, as far-right parties in France and Germany gain traction by opposing the Emissions Trading System, threatening the long-term support of traditional allies like France and Germany for EU climate mechanisms.
