Asked to react to Emmanuel Macron’s recent statements in favour of a possible “European regulatory pause” on environmental legislation (see EUROPE 13181/9), the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, recalled, on Monday 15 May, the role, according to her, of the French Head of State in the implementation of a European commitment to the ecological transition
“France has spared no effort in this area”, said the Commission President at the end of her joint press conference with European Council President Charles Michel. Ms von der Leyen stressed that the French President had always supported the ‘European Green Deal’, which was still at the proposal stage as early as December 2019.
Furthermore, on ‘Fit for 55’, Ursula von der Leyen noted that this package of proposals could not have been adopted without the support of the European Parliament, the EU Council and Emmanuel Macron. “Together we have been able to turn climate targets into laws”, she insisted.
However, the Commission President was keen to add a nuance: “The climate crisis cannot wait”. And to emphasise, “it is important to do more and to do it better”. For Ursula von der Leyen, it is also “important to reflect on the absorption capacity” of the regulatory framework by the Member States. “This is something we will be working on in the coming weeks and months”, she added.
On the subject of the “bureaucratic burden” and reporting requirements, Ms von der Leyen said: “By the summer, we will reduce the reporting obligation by about 25%. This is an important objective, because it would allow Member States to reduce this burden on their side”. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)