Marie Toussaint, the head of the Green Party’s list in the European elections, is calling for a change in the economic model of agriculture. With the Green Party struggling in this campaign five years after a strong showing by Yannick Jadot, Toussaint appeared on RTL to answer questions from listeners. She addressed the five lists presented as ecological, out of the 37 submitted to the Interior Ministry, such as those led by Yann Wehrling and Jean-Marc Governatori. Toussaint explained that smaller parties often choose to run in European elections, as they are proportional, but emphasized that only her list, if it reaches at least 5% of the vote, will send Green representatives to the Parliament.
Toussaint stressed the importance of Green representatives in times of crisis, noting that other parties tend to sideline environmental issues during wars or economic and social crises. She emphasized the need for a shift in the agricultural model, advocating for exiting free trade agreements and changing the distribution methods of the Common Agricultural Policy to reward employment over land area. Additionally, she reiterated her goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, which requires significant investment and goes against the austerity policies of conservative, liberal, and socialist parties.
In order to achieve carbon neutrality, Toussaint proposes a policy of moderation to reduce energy waste and vehicle size. She also calls for the establishment of a European ecological sovereignty fund, supported by the European Investment Bank, to become a majority shareholder in companies like TotalEnergies. Toussaint explained that by acquiring majority voting rights, the fund could redirect investments from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, thereby stopping continued pollution by these companies.
Overall, Toussaint’s vision involves a fundamental shift towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly economic model. She highlights the need for Green representatives in the European Parliament to advocate for policies that prioritise environmental protection in times of crisis. In terms of agriculture, she emphasizes the importance of rewarding practices that promote employment and sustainability. By proposing the establishment of a European ecological sovereignty fund and advocating for a policy of moderation, Toussaint aims to steer investments away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources, ultimately working towards carbon neutrality by 2040.
