Regulation 2013/525 - Mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and for reporting other information at national and Union level relevant to climate change - Main contents

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 – mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and other information relevant to climate change

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

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  This regulation, the Monitoring Mechanism Regulation (MMR), significantly expands and improves the previous mechanism for monitoring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the EU.
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  It aims to enhance the monitoring and reporting procedures and rules for GHG emissions.
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  It incorporates new reporting and monitoring requirements arising from the EU’s 2020 Climate and Energy Package and from recent decisions adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and replaces the old monitoring mechanism set up under Decision 280/2004/EC.

KEY POINTS

The regulation:

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  enhances the monitoring, reporting and review procedures and rules, which allows for the implementation of domestic and international commitments;
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  sets up an EU-wide greenhouse gas inventory* system that aims to improve the transparency and completeness of EU Member States’ GHG inventories;
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  incorporates Member States’ information on their planning and strategies for adaptation to climate change, covering aspects such as flooding, droughts and extreme temperatures;
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  improves the reporting by the EU and Member States on financial and technological support provided to developing countries;
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  ensures the timeliness, transparency, accuracy, comparability and completeness of data reported by the EU and Member States.

Repeal

Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 has been repealed and replaced by Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 (see summary) as of 30 December 2020, although some transitional measures are still in force.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 8 July 2013.

BACKGROUND

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  Following various international climate negotiations and new UNFCCC requirements, and taking into account new EU legislation, Decision 280/2004/EC, which contained less stringent measures to monitor EU GHG emissions and implement the Kyoto Protocol, needed to be significantly improved.
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  In 2013, the EU adopted the MMR repealing Decision 280/2004/EC. This ensured that it has in place a robust reporting mechanism on EU projections, policies and measures with regard to greenhouse gas emissions.
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  Every year, the European Commission publishes its climate action progress report. It also reports regularly to the UN.
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  For more information, see:

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    Emissions monitoring and reporting (European Commission)
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    Climate change mitigation (European Environment Agency).

KEY TERMS

Greenhouse gas inventory: this is an emissions inventory that keeps track of 7 different greenhouse gases coming from all sectors, including energy, industrial processes, waste, agriculture, and land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF). The EU’s greenhouse gas inventory is prepared each year by the European Commission, assisted by the European Environment Agency.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on a mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and for reporting other information at national and Union level relevant to climate change and repealing Decision No 280/2004/EC (OJ L 165, 18.6.2013, pp. 13-40)

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1208 of 7 August 2020 on structure, format, submission processes and review of information reported by Member States pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 749/2014 (OJ L 278, 26.8.2020, pp. 1-132)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 666/2014 of 12 March 2014 establishing substantive requirements for a Union inventory system and taking into account changes in the global warming potentials and internationally agreed inventory guidelines pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 179, 19.6.2014, pp. 26-30)

Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council: Progress towards achieving the Kyoto and EU 2020 objectives (required under Article 21 of Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on a mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and for reporting other information at national and Union level relevant to climate change and repealing Decision No 280/2004/EC) (COM(2014) 689 final of 28 October 2014)

last update 24.03.2021

This summary has been adopted from EUR-Lex.