The Court of Justice of the European Union on November 12 rejected all seven of Poland's lawsuits against the legislative acts of the Fit for 55 climate package. Warsaw had sought to challenge emission reduction rules affecting the automotive industry, energy, transport, and other sectors of the economy.

This was reported in the official announcement of the EU Court, published in Luxembourg.

Poland demanded the annulment of seven regulatory acts adopted as part of European climate policy. In particular, the cases concerned the tightening of CO emission standards for new cars, the reform of the emissions trading system, the introduction of carbon border adjustment, and energy efficiency requirements.

One of the most important contested documents was the regulation providing for a 100% reduction in CO emissions of new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles from 2035. Poland also opposed certain rules extending the emissions trading system to road transport, buildings, and maritime shipping.

The main argument of the Polish side was that the relevant legislative acts affect the structure of energy supply of member states and have financial consequences. In Warsaw's view, they should have been adopted under a procedure requiring unanimous support of EU countries.

The Court disagreed with this position. The ruling states that the contested documents could have been adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure, in which the European Parliament and the Council of the EU decide jointly, and a qualified majority in the Council is sufficient.

Thus, Poland failed to achieve the annulment of any of the seven acts. They remain in force, and the country must fulfil the obligations stipulated therein within the established time limits.

The lawsuits were filed mainly in 2023 under the government of Mateusz Morawiecki. After the change of power, the cabinet of Donald Tusk did not withdraw them from the EU Court.

The Fit for 55 package is part of the European Green Deal. Its main objective is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

The court's ruling does not introduce new taxes or restrictions directly from November 12, but confirms the validity of previously adopted European norms.

Based on materials from: Court of Justice of the European Union, Rzeczpospolita