Michael Glos, the German Finance Minister is trying to make a case for his country to be compensated with CO2 emission permits in response to its efforts to phase out nuclear power. He believes that the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) should take into account the fact that Germany will emit an extra 150 million tonnes of CO2 as a result of the closing down of its 17 power plants. A similar system had been put into place for Sweden which also pulled out of nuclear power in the 1990s. However, should the 27 Member States all come up with good reasons to be granted exceptions to the ETS we can kiss our 2020 cuts good bye. (The EU is supposed to cut CO2 emissions by 20% compared to 1990 levels, by 2020)