The Environment ministers of the European Union’s Member States held a first discussion on Tuesday 20 July at a meeting in Brdo (Slovenia), on the European Commission’s climate package aimed at achieving a reduction in the EU’s net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels (the ‘Fit for 55’ package) in the presence of the Commission’s Executive Vice-President in charge of the Green Deal, Frans Timmermans.
“We stressed that the package is a good basis for further discussions”, said Slovenian Environment Minister and chair of the meeting, Andrej Vizjak, at a press conference after the meeting.
Asked about ministers’ reactions to the proposal to create a new emissions trading scheme (ETS) covering road transport and buildings (see EUROPE 12762/1) - an option already criticised by some member states (see EUROPE 12764/11) - Mr Vizjak acknowledged that “a lot of reservations have been expressed”.
“I think it's going to be quite a hard nut to crack”, he added.
However, he said it is “too early” to draw conclusions only one week after the publication of the package, “because we have not yet examined all the possible consequences of the package on our economy and our standards of living”.
In addition, the Minister stressed the importance of “ensuring that there is solidarity, fairness, ambition and efficiency” as well as taking into account the national circumstances and starting points of each country, calling the ‘Social Climate Fund’ “key” in this regard (see EUROPE 12762/6).
He continued, “During our discussions, many member states pointed out the need to have more in depth consideration of their national circumstances”.
Ahead of the discussion, Mr Timmermans called for a “fair assessment” of the entire ‘Fit for 55’ package proposed by the Commission. He also invited the critics of the proposal for a new ETS to submit better alternatives for reducing emissions from road transport and buildings (heating).
COP26
In the afternoon, the ministers had an exchange of views with British Minister Alok Sharma in preparation for the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), or COP26, to be held in Glasgow in November.
At the end of the meeting, Mr Sharma, President-designate of COP26, said he had called on EU Member States and other donor countries to increase their commitments to climate finance.
These funds, intended to help developing countries address climate change, currently fall far short of the collective commitment of developed countries to provide $100 billion per year until 2025. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)