According to a provisional timetable, negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union are expected to meet on 2 February for a third round of inter-institutional negotiations (‘trilogues’) on the proposal for a European climate law, known as the ‘Climate Law’.
The trilogues, which began on 30 November, have for the time being remained essentially confined to the presentation of the respective positions of the co-legislators (see EUROPE 12614/15, 12627/26). However, the Portuguese Presidency of the Council is determined to take the discussions forward, with a view to reaching an agreement in the first half of 2021 (see EUROPE 12631/9).
Thus, at the last meeting of the Council’s Environment Working Group on 14 January, Member States’ experts held an exchange of views on the amendments proposed by the Parliament, the day after a technical trilogue between the negotiators.
While it is still too early to say for sure which of the MEPs’ proposals could be approved by the EU Council (application of the climate neutrality objective by 2050 to each Member State, creation of a ‘European Council on Climate Change’... - see EUROPE 12576/1), it is nevertheless certain that the flexibility of the negotiators regarding the EU’s climate objective for 2030 is limited.
While Parliament is defending a target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 60% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, it is indeed difficult to imagine the EU Council deviating from the position agreed by the 27 Heads of State or Government of the Member States, namely a net reduction of at least 55%, after an entire night of discussions (see EUROPE 12621/1).
Moreover, during the technical trilogue on 13 January, the European Commission expressed serious reservations about the introduction of a ‘GHG budget’ setting the total quantity of greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalent) that may be emitted until 2050. According to our information, the institution considers that this proposal has no added value provided a trajectory towards climate neutrality by 2050 is set. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)