Denmark's new EU Council Presidency to prioritise strengthening of the CBAM
Denmark's new EU Council Presidency to prioritise strengthening of the EU CBAM, concern over lack of clarity on upcoming CBAM costs, CBAM discussed at the Africa-Spain Summit 2025.
At a Glance
- Denmark's new EU Council Presidency to prioritise strengthening of the CBAM
- Industry stakeholders express concern over lack of clarity on upcoming CBAM costs
- CBAM featured in discussions at the Africa-Spain Summit 2025
Denmark's New EU Council Presidency to Prioritise Strengthening of the CBAM
The Council of the European Union operates under a rotating presidency, which changes every six months among EU member states. From 1 July to 31 December 2025, Denmark holds the presidency.
On 8 July, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen outlined Denmark's priorities for its six-month EU Council term, emphasising the need for Europe to continue advancing the global green transition. She also stressed the urgency of agreeing on an ambitious 2040 climate target to provide predictability for businesses and demonstrate global leadership.
In its official programme, the Danish Presidency announced it will prioritise strengthening the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), highlighting its role in preventing carbon leakage and supporting both the green transition and European competitiveness.
Industry Stakeholders Express Concern Over Lack of Clarity on Upcoming CBAM Costs
According to S&P Global, European traders and distributors of metal products voiced concerns about financial uncertainties related to CBAM at the European Federation of Steel, Tube and Metal Distribution and Trading (EUROMETAL) 75th anniversary event held in Luxembourg.
Key concerns included the absence of emission benchmarks, a lack of transparency regarding end-to-end costs, and uncertainty about the long-term financial burden CBAM will place on supply chains. Without this information, importers find it difficult to plan ahead of CBAM's definitive phase, which begins in January 2026.
The European Association of Non-Integrated Metal Importers & Distributors (EURANIMI) has expressed similar concerns, stating that the lack of CBAM benchmarks significantly hinders firms' ability to estimate their financial exposure to future costs.
CBAM Featured in Discussions at the Africa-Spain Summit 2025
From July 6 to 8, Madrid hosted the Africa-Spain Summit 2025, organised by One Africa Forums, to highlight Spanish cooperation with the African continent.
On the final day of the summit, a discussion was held on how relations between the EU CBAM and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could help improve the continent's trade balance with the rest of the world.
Understanding EU CBAM Obligations: Transitional vs. Definitive Phase
The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) transitional phase, which began in October 2023, is drawing to a close. With the definitive phase set to begin in January 2026, stakeholders across the supply chain are preparing for a significant shift in obligations and enforcement. We've published a blog post with the key challenges importers and manufacturers encountered during the transitional phase and explain what changes they can expect as CBAM enters its definitive period