European Green Deal

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With the European Green Deal, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is presenting a blueprint for EU policy for the next five years. It also serves as a growth strategy (successor to Europe 2020 and the Lisbon Strategy).

Background

At an extraordinary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, launched the European Green Deal. This strategy paper defines the priorities of her group for the next five years. The most important goal is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

In essence, the European Commission is addressing citizens' concerns about climate change and endeavouring to continue to shape a fair, sustainable and, at the same time, economic policy for a competitive EU. Financing plays a major role in this context: on the one hand, investments must be made in energy- and resource-efficient and climate-friendly measures; on the other hand, any social effects must be cushioned.

Roadmap

The roadmap for the submission of concrete measures is outlined in an annex. Of particular interest to the Federal Ministry are:

  • Climate Ambition
  • Clean, affordable and secure energy
  • Industrial strategy for a clean and circular economy
  • Sustainable and smart mobility
  • Greening the Common Agricultural Policy / "Farm to Fork" Strategy
  • Preserving and protecting biodiversity
  • Towards a zero-pollution ambition for a toxic free environment
  • Mainstreaming sustainability in all EU policies
  • Working together - a European Climate Pact

Tip

"Fit for 55" (FF55)

Within the framework of the European Green Deal, the EU has set itself the binding target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 with the European Climate Law. This is based on the assumption that current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will fall significantly in the coming decades up to 2050. To this end, the European Commission presented the "Fit for 55" package on 14 July 2021. This is a comprehensive legislative package designed to enable the Union to achieve the climate target of "at least 55% net" GHG reduction by 2030 compared to 1990, as set by the European Council in December 2020 and/or the EU Climate Law. The first package comprised 12 proposals covering the following areas, among others:

Reshaping the economy and the society

  • Adjustments within the framework of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and its extension to the buildings and road transport sectors,
  • new burden sharing between EU Member States in sectors not covered by the EU Emissions Trading Scheme,
  • revised requirements for the land use, land use change and forestry sectors,
  • creation of a CO2 border adjustment mechanism,
  • establishment of a new climate social fund to financially support less privileged population groups in achieving the climate and environmental policy goals by 2030 and beyond

Transport

  • New CO2 fleet targets for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles,
  • development of an infrastructure for alternative fuels,
  • requirements for more sustainable fuels in aviation and shipping

Energy

  • Revision of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Directives