State of the Union: The new Commission and the Green Deal

Central Europe was battered by so much torrential rain and deadly flooding that it pushed everything else to the back burner this week.

At least 21 people were killed in four countries when Storm Boris dumped up to five times the average September rainfall on parts of Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia in just four days, turning entire regions into disaster zones.

Towns and villages were devastated, hundred of thousands were forced to evacuate.

National authorities considered emergency funds for the affected areas.

The European Commission in Brussels was also wondering how the EU can support them in repair and reconstruction, knowing that extreme rainfall becomes more common and intense.

“This topic will be of growing importance,” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “So, this is something where we really have to, together as Europeans, decide how we can manage and finance the growing need of adaptation and repair that we will see in the years to come.”

Working for environmental resilience and transforming Europe’s economy into a competitive industrial might of the future will be the task of the new Commission that von der Leyen presented this week.

A large chunk of that task will land on the desk of one of her top nominees, Spain’s Teresa Ribera. Her portfolio was named “Clean, Just and Competitive Transition”.

“I am very thankful for this invitation to get such a big responsibility that tackles the economic and industrial challenges for the European business community, and the green challenges that do define how much, how well, how important is to take into consideration all the elements together,” Ribera said.

When von der Leyen announced her new team of commissioners, she reassured reporters that climate change will still dominate the Commission’s agenda, together with competitiveness and security.

‘Competitiveness as a compass’

To discuss all this, we spoke to Suzana Carp, deputy executive director of Cleantech for Europe.

Euronews: So, at the core of the European economic power is the Green Deal, setting the framework for industries and jobs. Does the composition of the new Commission reflect that?

Carp: Absolutely. If anything, the composition of the new European Commission confirms the policy objectives set by the EU Green Deal but looks towards our competitiveness as a compass in asking the question “How are we going to transform our European economy?” And in the way the portfolios have been allocated, we can see quite a clear vision as to how this will happen. What’s at the core of this vision is how are we going to turn our early leadership in industrial decarbonisation into long-lasting competitiveness and leadership for Europe on the global scene? So, in that regard, I would say the portfolios are very telling. So, indeed where we are right now is moving from the “If the Green Deal survives or not” to “How are we going to make it happen?” And it’s quite the comprehensive strategy, I would say, cutting across multiple portfolios. So effectively the Green Deal has been mainstreamed into a new economic vision, a new economic doctrine.

Euronews: The centre of gravity of the new European Parliament has shifted to the right – are you worried that the Green Deal could be undermined or at least watered down?

Carp: No, I don’t have this concern. No, certainly not after having read the mission letters, because what we’re seeing is that the objectives are upheld and in some regards even strengthened. This is quite clear when the reference to the 2040 climate targets for the EU is mentioned in the letter to Commissioner Hoekstra for climate to net zero and green growth. So, the direction is quite clear. I would say. I don’t think there is any possibility of backtracking.

Euronews: The Draghi Report was criticised by some for lacking the boldness to really drive the transition towards a green industrial policy – what is your take?

Carp: Interesting. I thought the analysis of the report was extremely accurate and perhaps the lack of boldness you’re referring to is compensated by the bold vision of this European Commission. And so, I guess and I think this was the original idea, the two go in tandem. What the Draghi reform report offers is an extremely sobering analysis of where Europe is situated vis-a-vis its global counterparts, and it goes into the reasons for that, right? What’s needed now, I think, is for the member states, the Council and the Parliament to endorse this bold vision and to also be committed to do what it takes for us to actually secure our long-term competitiveness in Europe.