Glossary
Monitoring plan – EU ETS
Under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), the document setting out how an installation, aircraft operator or ship monitors and reports its emissions. An installation's plan needs approval and is part of its greenhouse gas emissions permit.
- Who it applies to
- Operators of installations: the greenhouse gas emissions permit they need contains a monitoring plan. Aircraft operators: they submit a plan to the competent authority of their administering Member State for approval, at the latest four months before they start the activities covered. Shipping companies: a monitoring plan for each of their ships, assessed by a verifier and submitted to the administering authority responsible, which approves it.
- Example
- A new glass works with a melting capacity of more than 20 tonnes per day is covered by the EU ETS, so it needs a greenhouse gas emissions permit before it operates. The permit contains its monitoring plan, and each yearly emissions report gives the version number of the latest approved plan.
- Also known as
- EU ETS monitoring plan, monitoring plan, MRR monitoring plan
The Monitoring and Reporting Regulation (MRR) sets what the plan contains: a detailed, complete and transparent documentation of the monitoring method of a specific installation or aircraft operator, with at least the elements in its Annex I. The operator or aircraft operator submits it to the competent authority for approval, with supporting documents such as the results of a risk assessment of its control procedures.
Operators and aircraft operators then monitor their emissions on the basis of the approved plan, supplemented by written procedures. For an installation, the plan describes the installation, its activities and the emission sources and source streams to be monitored, and how responsibilities for monitoring and reporting are assigned. Member States may let operators update their monitoring plans without changing the permit, but updated plans still need approval.
Ships follow the maritime monitoring rules: a monitoring plan for each ship, documenting the monitoring method for that ship.
Our explainer on the yearly compliance cycle explains what the plan must contain and when to change it, and our shipping explainer covers ships.
Regulations
EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)
Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1862 set the cross-sectoral correction factor for free allocation at 100% for each year from 2026 to 2030
Used in
EU ETS for shipping: what shipping companies must surrender, and who pays
EU ETS for ships of 5,000 gross tonnage and above carrying cargo or passengers to or from EU ports: which voyages count, what to surrender and who pays.
EU ETS compliance deadlines: monitor, verify and surrender allowances each year
EU ETS operators must report verified emissions by 31 March and surrender allowances by 30 September. Each step, who acts, and what a shortfall costs.