There are concerns that the less well-off will pay more for the goals of the European Green Deal. The less well-off have older cars, for example, the average age of vehicles in Latvia is 13.5 years, and they live in lower-quality housing. State support for the purchase of more eco-friendly cars or for home renovation is not available to them. How will you ensure that the Green Deal makes life better for everyone?

The fundamental principle of the European Green Deal is to stop global warming and to develop a new growth strategy based on a decarbonised circular economy that provides jobs and opportunities for all, while simultaneously reducing emissions and protecting nature. Our main priority is for the green transition to provide benefits for everyone as quickly and as fairly as possible.

I am fully aware of the importance of these sectors in Europe and especially in Latvia. Rest assured that this has been taken into account in the Forest Strategy, which we introduced as part of the European Green Deal. I believe that we can strike a balance between the responsibility of member states and the EU level.

We must adapt European forests to new conditions – extreme weather and the high level of uncertainty caused by climate change. Therefore, in this strategy, we have outlined a vision and specific measures for increasing the quantity and quality of forests in the European Union.