The Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union Josep Borrell sparked controversy on Friday 7 February with remarks intended to stir up young people demonstrating in the streets for the climate change and thus spur them into action.
Accusing them of having the ‘Greta syndrome’ and questioning their ability to take concrete action for the climate, he outlined in a few sentences the paradigm shift underlying the European Green Deal and the Commission’s plan to involve society as a whole in the fight against climate change, even if it means that everyone has a hand in the pocket.
“The idea that young people are seriously engaged in the fight against climate change – we could call it the ‘Greta Syndrome’.... Allow me to doubt it. It’s good to demonstrate against climate change as long as no one asks you to pay for it. I wonder whether the young people demonstrating in the streets of Berlin to demand action against climate change are aware of the cost of such action and whether they are prepared to reduce their standard of living to compensate Polish miners, because if we are serious about fighting climate change, they will lose their jobs and will have to be subsidised”, Josep Borrell said in a video posted on Twitter.
These words outraged the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament. “These comments are unworthy of a representative of the Union. Firstly, because they are a blatant example of paternalism, and secondly because they set Europeans against each other. The EU must show solidarity in the face of the climate emergency!” said the group’s co-chair, Philippe Lamberts. He also announced that he intends to ask Mr Borrell to explain himself next week.
Mr Borrell was quick to say on Twitter that “youth movements fighting climate change have [his] full support and inspire politicians and societies”. A way of driving the nail in by opposing demonstrations to actions. He added, “We can’t afford costs of inaction”.
Earlier, Commission spokesman Eric Mamer assured the press that demonstrating for the climate had “never been recognised as a medical condition” and that “the College of Commissioners as a whole is behind the Green Pact and supports the aspirations of young people”.
He cited several “concrete measures” of the Green Pact such as the Investment Plan for a Sustainable Europe, the Just Transition Fund and the Climate Law (due to be presented on 4 March), not to mention the Climate Pact, even though this future proposal will precisely aim to mobilise all European society willing to take climate initiatives.
For the record, young people demonstrating for the climate do so to ask policy makers to listen to IPCC scientists. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)