Implementation of the CCS Directive

Policy

The European Commission works to ensure the coherent implementation of the CCS Directive throughout the EU. These include reporting on the implementation, facilitating exchanges between the competent authorities, publishing guidance documents, and adopting Commission Opinions on draft storage permits.

Reports on the implementation of the CCS Directive

The CCS Directive includes reporting requirements for EU countries and the European Commission:

Every 4 years, Member States report to the Commission on the implementation of the Directive
The Commission then reports to the European Parliament and the Council on implementation across the EU.

The Commission has published 3 implementation reports:

1st implementation report, February 2014 – based on Member States' reports delivered between July 2011 and April 2013, this report covers implementation of all key provisions of the Directive, state of transposition of the Directive and Commission actions to improve implementation
2nd implementation report, February 2017 – covering the period from May 2013 to April 2016, this report focuses on the articles which have had practical application in the Member States
3rd implementation report, October 2019 – based on national reports covering the period from May 2016 to April 2019, this report focuses on the progress made by Member States since the second implementation report

Information Exchange Group

An Information Exchange Group has been established to

organise an exchange of information between the competent authorities of the Member States, and
promote a coherent implementation of the CCS Directive throughout the EU.

Guidance documents

Four guidance documents were published in 2011 to

provide an overall methodological approach for implementing the key provisions of the CCS Directive and
help ensure environmentally safe geological storage of CO2 across the EU.

The first guidance document outlines a CO2 storage life cycle risk management framework.

The other three address in more detail issues such as the characterisation of the storage complex, CO2 stream composition, monitoring and corrective measures, the criteria for transfer of responsibility to the Member State, and financial security.
The documents are mainly addressed to the competent authorities and relevant stakeholders.
They have been discussed with experts from Member States and key stakeholders, including industry, research community and NGOs.

Opinions on draft storage permits

The CCS Directive requires the Member States to make CO₂ storage permit applications available to the Commission within one month of receiving them. Member States have to provide the Commission with draft storage permits and any other related material that the competent authority has taken into consideration to decide on the award of a permit.

The Commission may provide a non-binding Opinion on the draft storage permit within four months of its receipt.

Opinions provided:

February 2012 – Opinion on the draft permit for the permanent storage of CO₂ offshore on the Dutch continental shelf.
January 2016 – Opinion on a draft storage permit for the permanent storage of carbon dioxide in the depleted Goldeneye gas condensate field on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf.

Contact

For more information on the CCS Directive and its implementation, please contact CLIMA-CCS-DIRECTIVE@ec.europa.eu.

Documentation

Guidance documents

Document	Subject
Guidance document 1	CO2 Storage Life Cycle Risk Management Framework
Guidance document 2	Characterisation of the Storage Complex, CO2 Stream Composition, Monitoring and Corrective Measures
Guidance document 3	Criteria for Transfer of Responsibility to the Competent Authority
Guidance document 4	Financial Security (Art. 19) and Financial Mechanism (Art. 20)