Multinationals ArcelorMittal or ThyssenKrupp received more free allowances than their actual emissions.
EnvironmentEuropean Union
- Omissions
- No specific time period is stated; the claim is presented as a general fact without temporal qualification.
- The most recent EU-level data on free allocation vs verified emissions (2025) from the ERCST and Carbon Market Watch could not be inspected in full due to search limitations; company-specific data for ArcelorMittal and ThyssenKrupp in 2025 was not directly retrieved.
- Carbon Market Watch (December 2025) reports that free allowances still cover around 90% of industrial emissions on average, which suggests that not all industrial installations receive surplus allowances—though steel-sector over-allocation remains a documented issue.
- The MEP (Marie Toussaint, Les Écologistes/Verts/ALE) has an expected narrative bias toward highlighting over-allocation to industry, and the claim omits the fact that free allocation is being phased out starting in 2026 under the revised ETS Directive.
- Sources
- SecondaryCarbon Market WatchFree allowances still cover around 90% of industrial emissions. Between 2021 and 2025 (Phase IV of the ETS), this means industries received significant free allocation.
- SecondaryERCST — 2025 State of the EU ETS ReportThe phasing out of free allowances is increasing EU ETS revenues. The report covers Phase IV allocation data (2021–2025) and discusses free allocation trends for industrial sectors including steel.