Nine months before the European elections, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen defended a “fair and equitable” Green Deal on Wednesday in the face of the tensions it arouses in the agricultural world and within her own political group.
In her annual speech on the State of the Union, delivered to MEPs gathered in Strasbourg, the German official vigorously defended her results – ensuring that she had translated into action “more than 90%” of the orientations presented upon her arrival – but without give the slightest indication of its political future.
In a striking contrast to last year, Ukraine was not the central theme of his speech, delivered by juggling English, French and German.
If she welcomed the “great progress” made by Kiev on the road to its accession to the Union, and reaffirmed the support of the Europeans “as long as necessary” in the face of the Russian offensive, she mainly focused on the Green deal aimed at slashing the continent’s carbon emissions and attempted to reassure its application.
Environmental legislation is causing growing tensions among certain member states and MEPs from its own camp, the EPP (right), who are calling for a regulatory “pause” and readily denouncing the administrative “burden” for businesses and farmers, against a backdrop of rising the far right in Europe.
While, apart from the climate plan, the Green Pact remains largely unfinished with 37 texts still under negotiation (including the highly contested ones on the “restoration of nature” and the regulation of pesticides), Ursula von der Leyen announced her desire to “stay the course” and “remain ambitious”.
But also to “guarantee a just and equitable transition” with “the solemn promise of leaving no one behind”, she immediately added, promising in particular “less polarization” with farmers.
Anxious to give assurances to manufacturers, it intends to further facilitate the issuance of permits for wind turbines and announced the opening of an investigation into Chinese public subsidies for electric automobiles to defend EU manufacturers in the face of “prices artificially low.
The European Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) welcomed “a positive signal”, while calling for “a solid and global industrial strategy” of scale to “compete” with the rest of the world.
On the enlargement of the EU, his words were scrutinized: Brussels must present its recommendations in the fall on the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. Five Western Balkan countries are also candidates for membership.
“We cannot – we should not – wait to modify the treaties to move forward on the path to enlargement”, said Ms von der Leyen, calling for “more quickly to adapt the Union”, its institutions and its budget , but refraining from setting a timetable.
Among the ongoing projects, the sensitive reform of European budgetary rules is the subject of fierce discussions, as is the thorny reform of migration policy, against a backdrop of reception capacities under pressure in the face of increasing demands for asylum.
The leader called on member states and MEPs to step up their efforts: “Let’s show that Europe can manage migration effectively and compassionately. Let’s finish the job!”, she urged. She also praised the recent “strategic partnership” concluded in July with Tunisia, calling for “similar agreements with other countries”.
Finally, the President of the Commission pointed out the “strong headwinds” darkening the economy: labor shortages — “competitiveness bottlenecks” — and the persistence of “high inflation” : it stood at 5.3% in August, and its return to 2% “will take time,” she admitted.
This speech comes as political maneuvering has begun in view of the June 2024 election and speculation is rife about Ursula von der Leyen’s desire to serve again for five years.
The head of the EPP, the German Manfred Weber, fiercely opposed to the “nature restoration” text, welcomed “the new phase of the Green Deal”: “We are also listening to our workers, SMEs, farmers, young people (…) And we want a European, not Chinese, Green Deal,” he said.
Conversely, the leader of the Greens Philippe Lamberts called on Brussels to “hold firm” on the environment, faced with an EPP hardening its line on the climate in the wake of the far right “in the hope of bringing back voters in his fold”.
“In a speech full of figures and fulfilled commitments, Ursula von der Leyen deliberately overlooked the delays and diluted ambition that have eroded the credibility of the initial promise of the Green Deal,” lamented Secretary Patrick ten Brink. -general of the influential NGO European Environmental Bureau.
13/09/2023 12:26:24 – Strasbourg (AFP) © 2023 AFP
