On Friday 25 July, the lead rapporteur in the European Parliament, Ondřej Knotek (PfE, Czech), tabled a motion to reject the European Commission’s proposal for a 90% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, in line with the statement by his parliamentary group Patriots for Europe denouncing an “unrealistic plan” (see EUROPE 13687/17). Published by our colleagues at Contexte, the text considers that the objective lacks a “robust enabling framework” and poses a major risk to European industrial competitiveness. The report denounces an “ideological” project, which would continue the “strategic mistakes” of the ‘European Green Deal’, while geopolitical uncertainties remain. It rejects a new constraint before the 2030 target is assessed, and calls for climate policy to be geared towards innovation and adaptation. The deadline for tabling amendments is 8 September, with a vote in committee on 23 September. (NP)
