Sardinia and Corsica have jointly asked Italy and France to suspend the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) carbon tax on maritime and air routes between the two islands for five years. The proposal argues that rigid application of the ETS directive raises transport costs for residents and businesses without accounting for the structural disadvantages of island geography. The request was sent ahead of a summit in Antibes between Italian and French officials. Regional leaders say the ecological transition must not penalize island territories, and that a transition period is needed to avoid harming competitiveness, social cohesion, and the right to mobility. The two islands are also working to strengthen ferry links between Santa Teresa di Gallura and Bonifacio and to add new air connections. The debate highlights a tension in carbon pricing: uniform rules can hit isolated regions harder. Whether the EU adjusts its ETS framework for islands or sticks to a one-size-fits-all approach will determine if this moratorium becomes a precedent for other insular regions.
