In preparation for June’s European elections, Terry Reintke of the Greens has positioned her party as a counterforce to right-wing, authoritarian influences seeking to weaken climate action. As one of the lead candidates for the European Greens, Reintke emphasized the importance of upholding the European Green Deal, the EU’s initiative to achieve climate neutrality. The Greens have been critical of the center-right European People’s Party for allegedly diluting the Green Deal in response to protests by farmers. Reintke proposed redistributing the bloc’s farming subsidies based on ecological and social criteria rather than farm size to support smaller family farms in Europe. She highlighted the Green Deal as crucial for both environmental security and economic competitiveness in Europe.
Reintke emphasized the link between the Green Deal and Europe’s security, pointing out the vulnerability created by reliance on Russian fossil fuel imports in the past. She stressed the importance of transitioning to renewable energy sources and a sustainable economy to reduce dependence on autocratic regimes, highlighting the Green Deal as an essential component of Europe’s security strategy. Reintke also positioned the Green Deal as vital for Europe’s competitiveness against global powers like China and the US in developing clean energy technologies like green hydrogen and batteries. She advocated for significant investment from the European level to drive the transition towards cleaner technologies, positioning the Green Deal as key to ensuring Europe’s competitiveness in the face of heavily subsidized industries elsewhere.
Reintke raised concerns about the potential industrial exodus from Europe prompted by the US’ Inflation Reduction Act, which offers attractive subsidies for green technology made in America. The EU introduced counter-proposals like the Net Zero Industry Act and the Critical Raw Materials Act in response to this threat. In addition, the EU initiated probes into Chinese state subsidies in industries like electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind turbines to prevent the flooding of the European market with cheap imports. Reintke positioned the Green Deal as a strategic response to these challenges, enabling Europe to compete effectively with global competitors in the clean energy sector.
In addition to environmental and economic arguments, Reintke framed support for the Greens as a means of defending democracy against right-wing, authoritarian elements in European politics. She highlighted the choice facing citizens between a more right-wing majority in the European Parliament that could be influenced by authoritarian and far-right forces or a more progressive, forward-looking agenda. Reintke pointed out the achievements of Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen while also criticizing her for losing momentum towards the end of her term, particularly in relation to the Green Deal and environmental legislation. Despite these criticisms, von der Leyen remains committed to defending the Green Deal as a model for clean growth during her reelection campaign.
Regarding the conflict in the Middle East, specifically Israel’s response to Hamas’ attacks, Reintke advocated for putting pressure on Israel and potentially considering sanctions. She proposed using the EU-Israel Association Agreement as a leverage point to address the situation, echoing calls from Ireland and Spain for action against Israel. Reintke emphasized the need to hold Israel accountable while also considering the implications for the security of both Israel and its citizens. The interview with Reintke is part of a series with all the Spitzenkandidaten, with the full interview to be broadcast on Euronews.
