Only eight weeks remain until the European Parliament elections. The European Parliament has launched a campaign to tackle two very important tasks – to motivate European Union citizens to take part in the elections by casting their vote, and to fight disinformation. The role of journalists and the media matters more than ever before. It is particularly important for Europe right now. The threats posed by disinformation must be taken into account – that is what the European Parliament's press secretary and Director-General for Communication, Jaume Duch Guillot (Jaume Duch Guillot), announced at a press conference some time ago. Never before has there been a greater risk of foreign interference in the elections.
Yet another scandal has shaken the European Parliament and national legislative bodies. The pro-Kremlin portal Voice of Europe in Germany is suspected of spreading Russian propaganda. The channel is even said to have paid far-right parliamentarians for specific services.
The scandal in Germany was not, however, enough to put a stop to the behind-the-scenes power games typical of the European Parliament, namely, the shaping of the agenda and the contest for the so-called top jobs. These two topics are said to be decisive in determining Europe's future political direction – including how the climate and energy crisis will be addressed. What will the priorities of the next European Commission be? What will happen to the Green Deal? What will the Common Agricultural Policy look like? Who are the potential candidates for those much-coveted top jobs (which are “reset” after every election)? Who will be President of the European Commission, and what will the new executive look like? Who will become President of the European Parliament? Who will be President of the European Council? Who will be “the face of the European Union on the world stage” – the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy?
The European Parliament elections on 6-9 June will fire the starting gun on a marathon that will end with the approval of the European Commission and the start of its work. The current view in Brussels is that this could happen at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025.
Coming up in the weeks ahead
European Parliament elections 2024
On 24 April, the European Parliament will publish a summary of all the legislative work carried out during its 9th term (2019-2024). The summary will highlight the measures taken to implement the Green Deal, which was announced in December 2019 by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The publication will take place in Strasbourg, the seat of the European Parliament, alongside the Parliament's final plenary session. That session is scheduled for 22-25 April. A debate with the lead (main) candidates will be held in Brussels on 23 May.
The Common Agricultural Policy
At the final plenary session on 22-25 April, Members of the European Parliament will vote on lowering the environmental protection standard requirements. Farmers will have to meet these standard requirements in order to receive subsidies. The weakening of the environmental protection standard requirements was proposed by the European Commission on 15 March. The proposals were tabled following the widespread farmers' protests across Europe. European Union agriculture ministers approved the proposals in question on 26 March. In this area that was the first step in the European legislative process; the next will be the vote by Members of the European Parliament. If the proposals to lower the environmental standard requirements are approved, they will be implemented by the end of spring – as the European Parliament's press service has indicated.
The Nature Restoration Regulation
The legislative process for the nature restoration law, which would oblige member states to restore at least 20% of the European Union's land and 20% of its sea areas by 2030, has been blocked once again. Several member states, including Hungary and Italy, came out against the regulation. Others, such as Germany, Spain and Ireland, still hope for a favourable outcome before the European Parliament elections, underlining that the political tension surrounding this contentious document remains very considerable. The Nature Restoration Regulation is, in effect, the central element of the Green Deal. Its aim is to ensure the restoration of degraded ecosystems. The European Commission's legislative proposal seeks to make member states carry out a range of measures, such as greening cities, restoring drained peatlands, or bringing marine and forest ecosystems back to health. This proposal also needs to be assessed in a global context. The Nature Restoration Regulation was intended to enable the European Union to meet its international commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Convention and to restore at least 30% of degraded ecosystems.
The latest on the progress of EU policymaking – a round-up of the past month
The European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) handed down a highly unusual ruling in which it found that state inaction on climate can put human rights at risk. The case was brought by an association of 2500 Swiss women. It brings together women over the age of 64 and is known as “Klima Seniorinnen”. In their claim, the association's representatives argued that the government's inaction on climate had put them at risk during heatwaves, stressing that their age and sex make them particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Some non-governmental environmental campaign groups have already welcomed the judgment as a milestone in the fight against climate change. It could also encourage other so-called climate activist groups to bring similar cases in the same way. Naturally, this raises the question of just how far and in what direction such litigation might go…?
Two other cases of a similar nature – those brought by Damien Carême (Damien Carême), the former mayor of the French town of Grande-Synthe (Nord) and current Member of the European Parliament, and by six young Portuguese people – were nevertheless declared inadmissible.
The Industrial Emissions Directive
On 12 April, representatives of the 27 EU member states formally approved the European Industrial Emissions Directive, which is said to open the way to achieving the zero pollution target by 2050. The document covers around 50000 industrial and agricultural installations, which together account for 20% of pollutant emissions to air and water. In its initial proposal, the European Commission had hoped to widen the scope of the directive to include more intensive livestock farming, in particular cattle rearing, which is a significant source of methane and ammonia emissions. The European Parliament, however, objected to such a widening of the directive and on 12 March adopted a text that does not include cattle rearing. It is precisely this text that member states will have to approve. This is the final legislative stage before the directive enters into force.
The European Parliament
In March and April the European Parliament adopted several documents connected with the Green Deal.
The European Parliament approved the reform of the EU electricity market design; its aim is to decarbonise the European Union's energy sector, to protect consumers against price volatility, and to promote the production and integration of renewable gases and hydrogen. Parliament also approved a law aimed at cutting the intensive methane emissions produced by the energy sector, as well as a law establishing (the world's first) framework for certifying carbon removals. The law covers various forms of carbon removal, such as permanent carbon storage using industrial technologies, carbon storage in long-lasting products, and carbon farming. A month earlier, Parliament also gave the “green light” to a law aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions from new heavy-duty vehicles by 90% by 2040. Members of Parliament agreed to a bill setting out new rules with stricter pollution standards for cars and lorries. These rules are already known as Euro 7. The 27 member states, represented by the European Council, must now also formally approve all these laws before they can enter into force.
Members of the European Parliament adopted the final version of the recast European directive on the energy performance of buildings, which has also been agreed by the European Council. The directive provides for an end to the use of fossil-fuel boilers by 2040.
On 10 April the European Parliament adopted its opinion on the European Commission's proposal for a Soil Monitoring Law. This is the first dedicated EU law on soil. The proposed law aims to oblige European Union countries first to monitor and then to assess the condition of all the soils on their territory. After the European Parliament elections, which, as already mentioned, will be held on 6-9 June, this matter will of course continue to be dealt with by the newly elected Parliament.
Members of the European Parliament approved their position on a dedicated directive that will improve product labelling and ban the use of environmental claims that mislead the public. The purpose of the text is to protect consumers against so-called greenwashing. Before negotiations can begin on adopting the final version of the directive, member states have yet to set out their position. According to a statement from the current European Parliament, the directive will have to be taken forward by the new Parliament immediately after the elections.
Other news
On 24-26 April Luxembourg will host the European Investment Bank's Adaptation Days. Interested parties will share their experience and practice in adapting to climate change. Participants will have the opportunity to find out more about the advisory services already available from the European Investment Bank.
On 30 May, EU Green Week will take place in Brussels and will also be available online; it will discuss what is needed for Europe to use its water resources more sustainably.