Tusk said EU leaders agreed that funds generated from the release of some emissions permits would be redirected to support less wealthy member states where the bloc’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) has contributed to higher energy costs.
"The group of countries was defined in such a way that Poland will certainly be included," Tusk said.
He added that the agreement reflects a broader shift in the EU's approach to the carbon market, with growing support among member states for making the ETS more flexible.
According to Tusk, countries traditionally seen as strong advocates of climate policy, including some Nordic nations and Germany, have agreed to take into account the specific circumstances of individual member states.
Tusk also said the European Commission had pledged to extend the period during which energy-intensive industries can receive free carbon emission allowances.
He said the decision is expected to be confirmed by June and would allow such support measures to continue for years.
Energy costs were at the top of the agenda during Thursday's EU summit, which had initially been expected to focus on the bloc’s economic competitiveness, according to reports.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen chat before a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Photo: PAP/Wiktor Dąbkowski
Tusk said ahead of the summit that Poland would push for changes to the EU’s Emissions Trading System, which he described as a key factor driving up energy costs.
Poland had secured support from a group of member states for a broader review of the ETS.
In a joint letter to European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, Poland and nine other countries called for a thorough review of the system.
The countries also proposed extending free carbon allowances for industry beyond 2034 and slowing their phaseout from 2028, arguing that the current timeline could place excessive pressure on businesses.
They warned that existing rules, combined with high energy prices, pose an "existential threat" to some strategic sectors of European industry.
The group also called for steps to reduce price volatility in emissions allowances and urged the Commission to accelerate its review of the system, seeking proposals by the end of May instead of July.
The ETS, launched in 2005, is a cornerstone of the EU’s climate policy and operates on a “polluter pays” principle, requiring companies to buy permits to cover their emissions.
Tusk has also emphasised the broader link between energy and security, citing Russia’s war in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East.
"Energy and security are inseparable," he has said in recent days.
He added that Poland plans to invest about PLN 1 trillion (around EUR 230 billion) in its energy sector over the next decade, including in renewable energy, power grids and nuclear projects.
At their Brussels summit on Thursday, EU leaders also discussed the war in Ukraine, including a proposed EUR 90 billion loan package for Kyiv, as well as defence, migration, the EU budget and the situation in the Middle East, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
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Source: IAR, PAP