New EU environmental taxes

In order to support climate neutrality while protecting EU industry from relocating production to countries with lower environmental standards, the CBAM mechanism was introduced. As of October 2023, the transitional phase of CBAM began, during which importers of selected goods such as cement, iron and steel, aluminum, fertilizers, and electricity must report the carbon footprint of their products.

Starting on May 1, 2025, importers and indirect customs representative can apply for the status of “authorised CBAM declarant”, which will be granted by an EU member state. Without the authorised declarant status, it will not be possible to import goods falling under CBAM into the customs territory of the European Union from January 1, 2026.

From 2026, importers will be required to purchase CBAM certificates reflecting the carbon emissions of goods imported into the EU. Declarants will have to submit by May 31 of each year (for the first time in 2027 for the year 2026) a report that includes the quantity of CBAM goods imported into the EU in the previous year, the total bound emissions in these goods, the number of CBAM certificates needed for submission, and copies of verification reports. It is possible to request a reduction in the number of certificates if it is proven that the carbon price has already been paid during the production of goods in a third country.

At the same time, the CBAM mechanism will be implemented alongside the gradual removal of free quotas within the EU ETS from 2026 to 2034.

In Slovakia, CBAM is being implemented as a separate administrative regime starting in 2023. Importers of affected goods are required to submit quarterly reports on the volume of imports and related carbon emissions. From 2026, they will be obliged to purchase CBAM certificates, and from May 1, 2025, they can apply for the status of authorised CBAM declarant. This status can be requested by any importer established in an EU member state or through their designated customs declarant.