The differences in position between the northern and the northern states of the European Union on the definition of the of the governance and regulation of the sector are certainly nothing new. It is not It was therefore unexpected that two sides would emerge, if not at least not converging, on the changes to be made to the EU Emissions Trading ETS applied to the maritime sector.

The main maritime nations of the southern part are at the forefront of the call for amendments to the significantly the European system for the decarbonisation of the shipping. This line-up sees side by side, albeit with a whole series of distinctions, Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and Malta, but also nations of central and southern Europe that share with them some proposals for changes, also with regard to the application of the system to the maritime sector, which hope they will be incorporated into the proposed change to the EU system ETS that the European Commission is expected to present in a few years' time, week. From the south, the main perplexities concern the impact of the EU ETS, in particular, on maritime connections to ensure territorial continuity with the islands and to Building the Motorways of the Sea and its hijacking effect of the traffic of goods to the ports of North Africa.

On the whole, the position of the governments of the central and northern EU countries, which are more likely to keep the system almost unchanged or contribute less to it or to introduce a greater degree of flexibility.

Between the two camps are EU states, such as the northern Poland, which flank geographically distant to urge amendments that safeguard, more that the maritime sector, industrial activities in their complex.

The most recent position, expressed by the government of the Sweden, confirms the dichotomy that characterizes opinions on the EU Maritime ETS in the EU. The Swedish Minister for European Affairs, Jessica Rosencrantz, in fact, sent a letter to the presidency EU Report, outlining its priorities and positions Sweden in view of the upcoming negotiations on the revision of the emissions trading system, highlighting that the ETS is the EU's most important climate policy instrument for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and creates clear incentives for companies to reduce their emissions and invest in new technologies.

In the letter, Sweden stresses the importance of that the ETS continues to be a strong driver of change and to achieve the Union's climate objectives, and strengthening European competitiveness. Sweden highlights in the need to maintain the current rate of reduction of emissions, to include waste incineration in the system and - in relation to its application to the sector maritime - to extend its coverage to a greater number of ships, including those of 400 gross tonnage or more tons. "Their inclusion - underlined the minister in the letter - is necessary to ensure equality of conditions in the maritime sector. At the same time, it is important not to impose a disproportionate administrative burden on operators of smaller vessels'.

In the letter, which also urges to create conditions for the permanent absorption of carbon dioxide through, inter alia, the capture and biological storage of Rosencrantz highlighted that the Swedish government wants to that the ETS remains ambitious, stable and predictable, and has specified that, given that Swedish industry is much more In the climate transition, a robust ETS is at the same time a climate and competitiveness issue European Union.