QAZAQ GREEN.   The European Commission welcomed a provisional political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on new measures to simplify and strengthen the bloc’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

The agreement follows the Commission’s February 2025 proposal aimed at easing the regulatory burden on businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), while preserving the climate effectiveness of CBAM. A key element of the revised regulation is the introduction of a new exemption threshold: companies importing less than 50 tonnes of CBAM-covered goods annually will no longer be subject to the mechanism’s obligations.

This targeted exemption is expected to benefit smaller importers and individuals by streamlining procedures and cutting compliance costs. Nevertheless, the Commission notes that the revised CBAM will continue to cover approximately 99% of emissions from relevant imported goods, ensuring strong climate protections remain in place.

The deal also includes further simplifications for importers exceeding the threshold. These include streamlined authorisation processes, simplified data collection and emission calculations, and more flexible procedures for claiming credit for carbon prices paid in third countries. Additionally, adjustments will be made to how financial liabilities are calculated during the year of import.

The updated CBAM regulation is part of the broader Clean Industrial Deal, a strategic initiative designed to enhance EU industrial competitiveness while advancing decarbonisation. According to the Commission, the agreement marks a key step toward unlocking the Union’s economic and investment potential in the green transition.