The European Commission's executive vice-president in charge of the Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, tried to reassure the members of the European Parliament's Environment Committee (ENVI) on Tuesday 21 April about the institution's willingness to make the Green Deal a central element of socio-economic recovery, once the COVID-19 health emergency is over.
"At the European Commission, we strongly believe that a Green recovery is possible", he assured MEPs in his first (virtual) appearance before the ENVI Committee since the start of the coronavirus crisis, but also since the presentation of the 'climate law' on 4 March (see EUROPE 12439/2). He added: "We have to make sure that the investments we make take us into the new economy [...] a sustainable economy based on the Green Deal".
In his view, it is essential that everyone understands that the Green Deal is not "a luxury project that we should do without in a time of crisis", but, on the contrary, a project that we absolutely need today.
MEPs not totally reassured. While this commitment to a green recovery was welcomed by MEPs, with the exception of the ID group, some pointed out certain contradictions on the part of the Commission.
French MEPs Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe) and Yannick Jadot (Greens/EFA) highlighted that in an interview yesterday (Monday) with the Dutch newspaper NRC, Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean said that potential future state aid to airlines should not be subject to environmental conditions.
In response, Mr Timmermans merely reiterated the Commission's position that "States are free to introduce conditions" when it comes to State aid.
Following the lead of Jytte Guteland (S&D, Sweden), some MEPs also questioned the Vice-President about possible postponements in terms of the institutional calendar, particularly with regard to the presentation of the Farm to Fork Strategy and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.
While according to a draft version of the Commission's revised work programme, consulted by EUROPE (see EUROPE 12467/23), both strategies will be postponed until the end of the year, the Vice-President assured MEPs that the delay would not exceed a few weeks in relation to the new official date recently set (29 April).
Moreover, concerning the 'climate law', he expressed his willingness to stick to the timetable initially set (see EUROPE 12464/20).
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Asked by Yannick Jadot about the need to speed up the debate on the implementation of a carbon adjustment mechanism at borders to protect the Green Deal from external threats, Mr Timmermans replied that such a mechanism will only be necessary if third countries refuse to move in the direction of green recovery. According to him, the priority lies first in "convincing our international partners to go in the same direction", through climate diplomacy efforts.
Finally, addressing the issue of socio-economic recovery as a whole, the Vice-President expressed his confidence that Member States will eventually show solidarity, realising that it is in the interest of all of them not to let anyone fail. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)