Ensuring that the Green Deal is at the core of the EU's recovery strategy is a top priority for the Commission for the Environment, Climate change and Energy (ENVE). In today's videoconference meeting, the CoR's President Apostolos Tzitzikostas joined the debate with Commissoner Sinkevičius on the EU's green recovery, stressing the European Commission's plan will not succeed unless local and regional governments are involved in its design, implementation and assessment.
During the meeting EPP-CoR ENVE coordinator, Brigitta Pallauf, said that in order to guarantee a healthy living for all, we need to improve policy implementation, address the various transitions, boost green innovation and sustainable investment and communicate better with citizens.
In today's meeting several EPP led opinion were debated:
• Climate Law: The president of Andalusia Juanma Moreno and rapporteur on the 'European Climate Law: enshrining the 2050 climate neutrality objective' opinion highlighted that "Taking action against Climate Change is an urgent challenge and continues to be the case due to the #Covid19 pandemic. The consequences of climate change affect our social and economic well-being, health, food systems, as well as ecosystems and their biodiversity."
• Climate Pact: The draft opinion on 'The European Climate Pact' by Rafał Trzaskowski, the Mayor of Warsaw is ready for adoption and will be voted at the plenary session of 1-2 July. He clearly stated during the meeting that " Sub-national governments, whether local or regional, should be able to benefit from direct funds allocated especially for the green transition of our societies without the unnecessary mediation of the national governments."
• Water: Members discussed the draft opinion 'The Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive' by rapporteur Piotr Całbecki (PL/EPP). "The Directive has been crucial to improve the state of water resources in the EU. Yet, given the emerging challenges including climate change and solutions as well as in the light of SDG goals and the Green Deal, it is necessary to update this directive."
• Clean Air: "The difficult recovery ahead of us cannot undermine the EU's zero pollution ambition. Clean air and the overall zero-pollution action plan must be an integral part of the COVID-19 economic recovery", said János Ádám Karácsony, member of the Tahitótfalu Local Government during the debate on his draft opinion on 'The Future of EU Clean Air policy in the framework of the zero-pollution ambition'.
The draft opinions presented today will be subject to a vote on amendments and on the final opinion on 9 and 10 June respectively whilst the final vote in the plenary session will take place on 1-2 July.