I often hear that claim dismissively thrown out - but it's true to a lesser extent than people think. The EU doesn't just import; it exports a lot, too.
Here's the relevant figure from the highly reputed Global Carbon Project's latest report (2025).
The real issue with the EU's "success" is that emissions aren't declining fast enough, the fossil industry continues to enjoy considerable support, and the first 20% are the easiest - plans for what's next are shaky.