On 2 July this year the European Commission published a proposal to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the European Union (EU) by 90% by 2040, compared with 1990. The target applies to the EU as a whole. Latvia does not support the European Commission's proposal – the government approved this Latvian position at the Cabinet of Ministers sitting on 8 July. Minister Kaspars Melnis will defend Latvia's position at the informal Council of EU environment ministers in Denmark this very week.
“On Tuesday, 8 July, the government considered Latvia's position on the European Commission's proposal. Latvia cannot agree to the EC proposal to cut emissions by 90% while we have not had in-depth discussions with the European Commission on how that target is to be met. At present there are far too many uncertainties, and we hope to receive answers to them from the European Commission this week. One of Latvia's main priorities is the continued use of solid biomass. Latvia is in the Nordic region, and more than 60% of the fuel used for heating in Latvia is biomass. The use of biomass is very important for the Baltic region in terms of energy security, energy independence and also energy costs,” says Minister for Climate and Energy Kaspars Melnis.
It is important for Latvia to establish in talks with the European Commission what this proposal means in practice, how the target will be divided between the various sectors of the economy, including among the member states, and to what extent EU financial instruments will be used.
On 10 and 11 July this year an informal meeting of the Council of EU environment ministers will take place in Denmark, with EU climate policy after 2030 on its agenda. Latvia will be represented at the ministerial meeting by Minister for Climate and Energy Kaspars Melnis. At the same time, Minister for Climate and Energy K. Melnis has received an invitation to discuss the matter in a bilateral meeting with EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra.
“What we expect from the talks with the European Commission is, first of all, a realistic assessment grounded in calculations of how feasible it is to meet the existing emissions target (55%) in the EU by 2030. The existing targets are already ambitious for every member state, taking no account of individual national circumstances or of the geopolitical realities that require resources to be redirected to other priorities,” stresses Minister for Climate and Energy Kaspars Melnis.
During the talks Latvia will stand up for its national interests, stressing the need for the European Commission to take account of the EU's progress towards meeting the 2030 targets, the impact on the national economy and other contributing factors, and to offer a flexible approach to meeting the targets.
All EU countries cannot be judged by the same yardstick; the economic situation and the development of individual sectors differ in each of them. Latvia, for example, is green by its very nature – it has a large forest sector covering more than half of the country's territory, while the agricultural sector plays a substantial role in food production and exports.
“In the talks it is essential for us to get the European Commission to understand Latvia's situation. Climate policy must support the development of the sectors of the economy and deliver tangible economic benefits, not create a burden for our businesses. One area in which Latvia has secured substantial progress is the land use and forestry (LULUCF) sector. Last week the Ministry of Climate and Energy team succeeded in getting the European Commission to include Latvia in the list of five EU countries to which more flexible targets will apply in this sector. This means it will be possible to give due weight to Latvia's particular circumstances in the process of meeting the targets,” explains Minister Melnis.
This result was achieved by arguing persistently and offering solutions, fighting for wording in the EU regulation that is favourable to Latvia. Of the Baltic states, Estonia also managed to qualify for the exemption.