Netherlands To Delay Submitting New CO2 Plan To EU - Reuters

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AMSTERDAM - The Netherlands will delay submitting to Brussels its plan for carbon emission limits in 2008-2012, due to a political debate over the future of the trading scheme after 2012, the economy ministry said on Monday.

Two weeks ago, the Dutch government sent a new, tougher plan to parliament and said it would submit it to the European Commission by mid-September. It now will wait until after the debate.

"There will be a new debate in parliament, most likely this Thursday, as the VVD Liberals want the plan to say that the government will give free emission rights to electricity utilities after 2012, something that Germany is likely to do in their plan," an economy ministry spokesman said. "But the Dutch economy minister is of the opinion that we should not mention any plans after 2012 as the EU has not decided yet what to do after 2012," he said. The VVD rule in a caretaker government with the Christian Democrats.

Europe's biggest polluter, Germany, said in June it would give new power plants unlimited free pollution permitting carbon credits until 2022 -- a move that appears contrary to the aim of the scheme to cap greenhouse gas emissions.

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