first setback The European Commission’s plan to grant a green label gas and nuclear energy investments. this environment and economic affairs committees The European Parliament on Tuesday rejected Brussels’ proposal to include them in the EU taxonomy as environmentally sustainable economic activities. About first major political setback The devolved law proposed at the beginning of the year by the manager of Ursula von der Leyen. The rejection continued with 76 votes in favour, 62 against and abstaining. The final decision will be taken by the general assembly at the general assembly meeting. beginning of july. If an absolute majority of -353 out of 705 deputies approves the objection, Brussels will have to withdraw or amend its offer.
“Climate neutrality remains our goal and obligation. We are committed to using all available means to move away from carbon-based energy sources. Carbon emissions. We are aware of the sensitivity of this issue and different stances. Our empowered action is part of a series of tools to reduce our climate emissions. Therefore, it was important for us to propose this authorized action”, European Commission spokesman Dan Ferrie took note of the result and one of the two co-legislators – the European Council and the European Parliament – will reject the proposal to be rejected. Von der Leyen’s spokesperson said, “What do we do next? “We’re not going to speculate about it,” he said.
The Brussels-designed plan proposes that investments in gas power plants be considered sustainable as long as they are powered by renewable sources by 2035. When it comes to nuclear power, investments up to 2035 will have this label. year 2040 until 2045 in case of renewal of existing facilities, and until 2045 in investments to be made in new generation facilities. The Community Manager realizes that they are not. climate neutral activitiesbut he thinks it is necessary today to achieve the transition to climate neutrality in 2050, so they need to be able to benefit from investments in favorable conditions.
insufficient offer
While MEPs recognize the role of nuclear power and gas in ensuring a stable energy supply during the transition to a sustainable economy, they also consider that the technical control standards proposed by the European Commission to support inclusion do not meet the criteria for environmentally sustainable economic activities. . Congrats En Común MP, “It was unacceptable that gas and nuclear investments could be labeled as sustainable energies”, Ernest Urtauninsisting that the war has not yet been fully won. “We must now take the final step, which must approve the appeal at the plenary session. “We hope the groups approve the majority this morning and are aware of the urgency and need to increase the ambition of EU environmental rules rather than backing down,” he said.
Socialists, who asked the European Commission to withdraw its proposal, were equally pleased. “Gas and nuclear may still be necessary to meet energy needs and can assist in the transition to a climate-neutral EU. However, neither gas nor nuclear is green or sustainable, so we have no choice but to vote against labeling them as fit for classification,” said the vice president of the Social Democrats. Simona Bonafe.
The proposal not only sparked debate and controversy among lawmakers. It has also sparked controversy among Member States, starting from very opposite positions among those who do not favor the inclusion of gas – for example Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden or Austria– those who are fundamentally opposed to the green labeling of nuclear energy – Austria or Luxembourg– and those in his favor France, Hungary or the Czech Republic. According to the rules, because there is devolution, neither the European Parliament nor the governments can change the proposal, but reject it if they manage to gather a strong majority. In the case of the Council, unlike countries, a qualified majority is needed. In other words, at least 72% of the Member States representing 65% of the population (at least 20 of the 27 Member States) oppose. In the case of parliament, an absolute majority (353 MEPs) is needed.