Six civil society organisations (European Environmental Bureau, Finance Watch, WWF Europe, Greentervention, Positive Money Europe, Nicolas Hulot Foundation) published, on Monday 16 September, a list of recommendations addressed to the future European Commission to implement its ‘European Green Deal’.
While welcoming Ursula von der Leyen's ambitious proposal, the organisations invited her to provide this proposal with a financial framework commensurate with it. “We believe that a real, game-changing Green Deal is feasible in the short-term – but only if the European Commission can succeed in overhauling the conditions for both private and public financing”, they write.
The organisations also welcome the creation of an Executive Vice-President position responsible for the ‘Green Deal’ (see EUROPE 12324/1), but stress that it is essential that it works closely with the European Commissioner for Financial Services.
Other recommendations include the following: - amend the non-financial information directive; - bring a legislative proposal on environmental due diligence; - make the EU taxonomy on sustainable finance (see EUROPE 12320/5) mandatory for green products and create a “brown” taxonomy; - revise the EU Energy Taxation Directive.
The organisations also call on the Commission to double the share of the EU budget devoted to climate and the environment from 25% to 50%. See the document: http://bit.ly/2kEhuXg Original version in French by Marion Fontana)