A failure. All MEPs were disappointed with the COP 25 in Madrid. But none of them seemed surprised on Tuesday 17 December, during their exchange with the Finnish Minister for European Affairs, Tytti Tuppurainen, and the Executive Vice-President of the Commission, Frans Timmermans, who came to present the results (see EUROPE 12391/4).
Most MEPs claimed that the European Green Deal was very important to help ensure that the EU remains a leader at the COP 26. There was general agreement that a lack of agreement on the rules that will govern international carbon markets (Article 6) was better than a bad agreement.
"If we want to remain credible and meet the expectations of young people who ask us to act, we cannot support actions that undermine the environmental integrity of the Paris Agreement and set us back", said Frans Timmermans. And to ensure that the EU and its Member States remain committed to respecting the Paris Agreement and making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.
"Next year, we will work with partners to raise the ambition to a higher level", he said, recalling that the EU produces "only 9% of global emissions".
"Look at what has been achieved: the revision of the Warsaw mechanism on loss and damage and the new action plan on gender equality. In view of the COP 26, I call on all parties to update their NDC", added Tytti Tuppurainen.
Both were thanked for their hard work with their teams, night and day, in Madrid.
Chastising "the destructive line of countries such as the United States, Russia and Brazil", Jytte Guteland (S&D, Sweden) wanted to tell young people: "we are ready to play a pioneering role vis-à-vis constructive forces".
For the Finnish Nils Torvalds (Renew Europe), the United States is the most sensitive issue in the negotiations. To convince international partners, it would already be necessary to start achieving results at European level and that is why the Green Deal is important, says Dacian Cioloș (Romania), president of the Renew Europe group.
Peter Liese (EPP, Germany) said the Green Deal will make the difference in "finding partners like Japan, South Africa and Canada". He called for the EU to have a climate ambassador. "It's not an institutional problem. What is needed is more ambition on the EU side", replied Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA, Netherlands), insisting that the increase of the EU's 2030 target should be proposed before the EU/China summit next September in Leipzig, as the world is still on the path to an average warming of 3° Celsius.
Mick Wallace (GUE/NGL, Ireland) deplored the lack of international leadership and regretted that events in Bolivia and Chile had prevented an emphasis on protecting the rights of vulnerable indigenous populations.
Jadiga Winiewska (ECR, Poland) said it was "more necessary than ever to protect European industry" against countries that are not ready for transparency rules, such as China.
Silvia Sardone (ID, Italy) criticised the "waste of money and the flights to Madrid that have contributed to the pollution that you like to denounce".
Speaking of the 25th edition of a "small theatre", Piernicola Pedicini (not registered) felt that the COPs always achieve the same result: "nothing concrete". He is convinced that "China, the biggest polluter, followed by the United States, India, Russia and Germany will never block their production to save the planet". (Original version in French by Aminata Niang with Solenn Paulic)