Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 and increase dialogue with industry and farmers to convince them not only that the ecological transition is necessary, but also that it is economically viable. These are, in summary, the priorities of Maroš Šefčovič, who was appointed as the head of the Environment Pact (Green Deal) by the European Commission after the resignation of Dutchman Frans Timmermans, who decided to run in the national elections. Šefčovič, a Slovakian politician from the Socialists and Democrats group, was awarded the role of vice-president of the European executive by Ursula von der Leyen and attended the hearing before the European Parliament’s Environment Committee (Envi) on 3 October. Strasbourg will receive confirmation of its responsibilities regarding the environmental file. The candidacy is expected to be approved by the MPs meeting in the general assembly in the afternoon, but the most important step was definitely the step taken with Envi members.
Target 2040
To a specific question on the issue, Šefčovič supported the need to set the emissions reduction target at 90% by 2040. This will be the intermediate stage to achieve carbon neutrality set by 2050. The climate target by 2040 will have to be proposed by the European Commission in the first quarter of next year, just before the June 2024 election deadline. But the vice president explained that the 90% target was a “personal goal.” The manager will need to be a colleague. “I will supervise the work on the 2040 climate target, which is an important signal to the international community of the EU’s commitment to the Paris Agreement,” he said. The proposal is expected to arrive before the first quarter of 2024.
More dialogue with businesses
Šefčovič also underlined the importance of strengthening relations with citizens, especially with the continent’s economic powers, who in recent months have found commitments to the ecological transition too rigid and costly. “We need to strengthen support for the Green Deal, I want to establish green social dialogues to strengthen citizens’ participation in the transition,” the Slovak vice president said. “We need dialogue with industry as well as citizens, to explain that the Green Deal is an advantage, that it will help the growth of industry and tell the direction to follow. Therefore, we will organize a series of dialogues on the industrial world, the first of which will be dedicated to hydrogen,” added Šefčovič. Restoration of nature Taking into account the persistent lobbying of agricultural companies that are trying to undermine the law in every way, the socialist politician emphasized that “we need to establish a dialogue with farmers, who are the main partners of the green transition. It is not possible without their participation.”
wind pack
During the hearing, the politician spoke of “an initiative aimed at alleviating water stress, which increasingly affects various sectors of the economy and our societies,” without providing further details. Šefčovič gave an assessment of the initiatives waiting to be proposed within the remit of this Commission. In the autumn the European executive will focus on “wind energy” with a package to be presented on 24 October. Regarding e-fuels, synthetic fuels that should replace petroleum, the vice president underlined that “there needs to be major support for research and innovation to see how we can increase production to have better and more accessible production as well as high quality.” Synthetic fuels are at the center of the debate in Europe as Brussels proposes to ban the registration of internal combustion engine vehicles such as diesel and gasoline from 2035. “This is a big challenge,” admitted Šefčovič, recalling how the issue has not been resolved only. It concerns the automotive industry, but also the aviation industry and other sectors of the economy.
Critical nomination
While there is fairly widespread consensus around the figure of the Vice-President of the European Commission, the same cannot be said for the other appointment that the European Parliament must approve in plenary: that of Dutchman Wopke Hoekstra as the next head of EU policy. It’s about climate change. After a three-hour hearing on Monday, October 2, Envi decided to postpone the decision on whether to accept the former Dutch Foreign Minister for this post due to “commercial positions” he held at the Shell oil company twenty years ago. A petition signed by more than 100,000 people warned of the dangers of his appointment.
Source: Today IT
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
