Brussels – Ursula von der Leyen is setting the table for the EU heads of state and government, who on Thursday 23 October will have to come to an agreement on the old continent’s climate targets for the next decade. In a letter sent to the capitals, the President of the European Commission assures that Brussels will allow “considerable” flexibility in meeting the emission reduction target by 2040. Thanks to a series of loopholes, “our domestic target can be less than 90 per cent,” emphasised the godmother of that Green Deal now scaled down on the altar of industrial competitiveness.
The discussion on climate targets is likely to take up the most time in an already heavily compressed European Council, between defence, Ukraine, the Middle East, competitiveness and the housing crisis. Several countries are trying to put it back on the table, but the European institutions would like to save face on the eve of the COP30 to be held in November 2025. The European Commission, in the proposal submitted in July, has kept the bar at 90 per cent, but at the same time provided for a number of flexibilities. These include the possibility of taking into account financing to reduce emissions in third countries and greater flexibility for certain industrial sectors.
“We must stay the course in the transition of our economy towards climate neutrality and circularity, fully consistent with our competitiveness and independence agenda,” von der Leyen made clear to the heads of state and government. However, Brussels recognises that “the transition of a large and consolidated economy like the EU requires a combination of ambition, speed, pragmatism, and flexibility, as well as a certain degree of protection against unfair competition.”
According to the leader, the combination of these two principles “is clearly illustrated in the proposal” for emission reductions to 2040. A proposal that is both “ambitious” and “flexible”. Von der Leyen emphasised that “part of the target”—3 per cent in the Commission’s proposal, but “the ministers will discuss this further”—can be achieved “with high-quality international credits.” That 90 per cent at EU level is a red herring: “It can be lower, as long as it is compensated by similar—and cost-efficient and high integrity—reductions outside the EU.” Von der Leyen asks the 27 to keep this in mind when discussing what to do with that 90 per cent.
IThe letter also includes further reassurances to member states, the European Parliament and the industry. In particular to the automotive sector, to which von der Leyen reminds that she has “decided to accelerate the revision of the regulation on CO2 emission standards for passenger cars and vans,” now scheduled “by the end of the year.” The President of the European Commission has guaranteed that she will remain “committed to the principle of technological neutrality and cost-effectiveness” and has announced that “in preparing the review, we are also assessing the role of zero-emission and low-carbon fuels in the transition,” that is, “synthetic fuels” and “advanced biofuels”.
Finally, von der Leyen addressed the thorny issue of energy prices in Europe, which are “considerably higher than in the US and China.” The measures put in place by Brussels to tackle the energy crisis and to free itself from Russian gas have so far not been enough: “Energy bills remain too high” for both industries and households. In particular, those for electricity. “We need to explore effective measures in the short term to reduce energy prices in the EU, while safeguarding a level playing field in the internal market,” the EU leader admitted, announcing that “the European Commission will present relevant proposals as soon as possible.”
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
