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House Rejects Proposal on Introducing New Ways of Emission Trading
Wednesday 10 February 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, February 10 (TASR) - Slovakia's emission quotas will continue to be sold in a direct manner, rather than via so-called climate exchanges or alternatively via a mediator chosen by a selection procedure, as Parliament on Wednesday rejected a proposal to amend the act on emissions-trading.
According to opposition SDKU-DS party MP Tomas Galbavy, who submitted the proposal, the initiative was aimed at preventing the Environment Ministry from selling surplus emission units directly, thereby increasing the transparency of deals.
Galbavy's initiative came in the wake of the scandal that emerged after Slovakia sold the country's surplus carbon-dioxide emission quotas to the shady Interblue Group in 2008. The deal has come under a great deal of criticism, with the media and the Opposition alike describing it as being disadvantageous for the state.
"The company (Interblue) was chosen in a manner that provokes doubts as to whether the most advantageous offer was selected, and whether Slovakia's interests were harmed in a particularly serious way," said Galbavy.
Speaking before Parliament began dealing with his draft, Galbavy gave assurances that his initiative would boost the amount of funds flowing into Slovakia's Environmental Fund, as emission credits would be sold for the maximum possible price and in a transparent way.
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