10/02/2020 (Agence Europe) – After accusing the young climate protesters of suffering from ‘Greta syndrome’ and questioning their willingness to reduce their standard of living for the benefit of the planet, the Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, apologised on Saturday 8 February. "Just coming back from US trip, and I want to apologise to anyone that may have felt offended by my inappropriate reference to the important youth movement fighting [climate change]”, he said via Twitter. In response to the outraged reactions, on 7 February he had already reiterated his support for the mobilisation of young people (see EUROPE 12421/6). On Monday, Commission spokeswoman Dana Spinant hoped that the situation was now “clarified”. This controversy comes at a time when the European institution is fine-tuning its ‘Climate Pact’ to mobilise society’s action. (AN)