The recent catastrophic floods in central Europe, caused by heavy rainfall from Storm Boris, resulted in at least 21 deaths in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. The devastating floods forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate, leaving towns and villages in disaster zones. The European Commission is considering emergency funds for the affected areas and discussing ways in which the EU can support repair and reconstruction efforts in the face of increasing extreme weather events. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of managing and financing adaptation and repair needs in the future.
The European Commission, under the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen, has presented a new team of commissioners tasked with working towards environmental resilience and transforming Europe’s economy into a competitive industrial powerhouse. One of the key nominees, Spain’s Teresa Ribera, will be responsible for the “Clean, Just and Competitive Transition” portfolio, addressing economic, industrial, and green challenges facing the European business community. Von der Leyen reaffirmed that climate change will remain a top priority for the Commission, alongside issues of competitiveness and security.
Suzana Carp, deputy executive director of Cleantech for Europe, highlighted the central role of the Green Deal in shaping Europe’s economic power and setting the framework for industries and job creation. Carp emphasized the importance of competitiveness as a guiding principle in the transformation of the European economy towards a more sustainable and green future. The composition of the new European Commission reflects a clear vision for achieving long-lasting competitiveness and global leadership in industrial decarbonization.
Despite the shift to the right in the European Parliament, Carp expressed confidence that the Green Deal will not be undermined or watered down. Mission letters to commissioners outline strong commitments to the Green Deal objectives, including reaching climate targets for net zero emissions by 2040. The direction set by the Commission is clear, with a focus on green growth and sustainable policies that will drive the transition towards a more environmentally-friendly industrial policy.
The Draghi Report, criticized by some for lacking boldness in driving the transition towards a green industrial policy, was seen by Carp as providing a sobering analysis of Europe’s position relative to other global counterparts. While the report offered valuable insights, Carp believed that the bold vision of the European Commission, as reflected in its new team of commissioners, could compensate for any perceived lack of boldness in the report. The key now is for member states, the Council, and the Parliament to endorse this bold vision and commit to securing Europe’s long-term competitiveness through sustainable and green policies.
Overall, the new European Commission’s focus on the Green Deal and economic competitiveness signals a commitment to addressing the challenges of climate change and driving the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient future. By mainstreaming the Green Deal into a new economic vision, the Commission aims to position Europe as a leader in industrial decarbonization and green growth on the global stage. Through strategic policies and strong commitments to environmental resilience, the Commission is poised to tackle the growing need for adaptation and repair in the face of increasing extreme weather events.
