‘Brussels, My Love?’ lands in Strasbourg in the midst of a major vote on climate action
By Euronews Brussels bureau
‘Brussels, My Love?’, Euronews flagship programme, landed this week in Strasbourg for the very first time, offering viewers a closer look at the politicians shaping the work of the European Parliament.
The show’s arrival coincided with a vote on three major climate laws: the revision of the Emissions Trading System (ETS), the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the Social Climate Fund (SCF), which are part of a broader legislative package designed to slash the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% before the end of this decade.
To mark the occasion, our moderator Méabh Mc Mahon was joined by Peter Liese from the European People’s Party (EPP), Malin Björk from the Left and Jakop Dalunde from the Greens, who didn’t hesitate to share their thoughts and feelings about the far-reaching laws.
“We adopted the biggest climate law ever and we decided that we built our strategy on a market-based system,” said Peter Liese, who acted as rapporteur on the ETS revision.
“We need to act and we need to lead by example for the world. But we need to do it at the lowest possible costs because it's a huge effort. That's why it should always happen where it is most cost-efficient.”
While recognising the historic nature of the laws, Björk and Dalunde expressed a more measured view, regretting the lack of ambition in the final versions that were adopted.
“We should celebrate that we have a deal. It is not as strong as the Left would have wanted. It doesn't have as much of social sustainability linked with environmental sustainability,” Björk said.
“As Greens, this deal is as far as we could pull the other more conservative parties. But of course, we would like to go further: instead of subsidising polluting industry, subsidising people in the green transition,” Dalunde noted.
Bringing these three laws over the finish line was never going to be an easy ride: a vote last year on the same files descended into chaos, with MEPs pointing the finger (literally) at each other and throwing accusations at colleagues from opposing parties, including Liese, whose voice was silenced by jeers when he asked to work for a new compromise.
One of the most contentious elements was a proposal to install a separate ETS to put a price on the CO2 emissions released by buildings and road transport and therefore encourage the switch to cleaner alternatives. But critics said the system would make companies pass the price onto consumers and punish low-income citizens for turning on their heating and driving their cars. Some even raised the spectre of an EU-wide Yellow Vest movement.
The final compromise sealed in Strasbourg keeps the proposal’s essence intact and makes no distinction between private and corporate users. However, it does include the possibility of postponing the new ETS system if energy prices enter a new period of volatility.
“I'm convinced everybody needs to contribute and everybody that is not able to do this needs to be supported,” Liese said. “Fossil fuels will always be more expensive.”
Dalunde agreed with Liese’s reasoning but said the Social Climate Fund, which serves as a counterpart to the new ETS by providing up to €86.7 billion in support for vulnerable households, should have been increased to “make the green transition easier.”
“We need to just transition or there will be no transition,” Björk added, echoing Dalunde’s view.
“There’s not a natural law that says that poor people should become poorer.”
 If you want to find out how the debate ended, watch ‘Brussels, My Love’ this weekend on Euronews TV and euronews.com
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Euronews 21-4-2023
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