The Commission’s 2040 Climate Target, supposed to amend the Climate Law, will undergo a normal procedure in the European parliament. MEPs on Wednesday, 9 July, rejected a proposal to fast-track submitted by centrist and centre-left factions. The far-right Patriots for Europe’s group will now control the legislation.
It may come out as a major split within the so-called “ruling coalition” in the European Parliament: European People’s Party (EPP), the biggest faction within the European Parliament (188 MEPs), did not support the proposal submitted by liberal, socialist and green lawmakers which called for fast-tracking the Commission’s 2040 Climate Target in the Parliament.
The motion, brought by the center-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D, 136 MEPs), the centrist Renew Europe (77 MEPs), and the Greens (53 MEPs), failed by 300 votes in favor to 379 votes against, with eight abstentions. Those who voted against were mostly MEPs from EPP plus European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR, 78 MEPs), far-right MEPs from Patriots for Europe (84), and Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN, 25).
In practical terms it means that the far-right Patriots will now have an unprecedented control over the climate legislation – legislation they fully reject. Just one day earlier, on Tuesday, 8 July, Patriots had acquired – to the shock of many – the position of rapporteur over the file. Thus, far right will now be responsible for drafting the Parliament’s position on the target.
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European Parliament’s ordinary process also gives the rapporteur control over the timing. Many MEPs now express concern that the far right would try to delay the whole process including naming the rapporteur.
“Great victory for Patriots”
Shortly after the vote there has been a lot of entusiasm in the far-right camp. “Another great victory for Patriots (…) The left has lost a procedural vote with 300/379 on climate law,” posted MEP Enikő Győri (Patriots/HUN) on social media platform.
The Patriots have long called on the EU to abandon the European Green Deal which is the legislative framework guiding the continent toward climate neutrality by 2050. The Commission’s 2040 Climate Target is an important intermediate step leading to it. Opposition to the Green Deal is at the center of Patriots’ political programme.
What EPP has done today is scandalous, irresponsible, and unforgivable – Michael Bloss (Greens/GER)
Centrist and left-leaning MEPs voiced concerns that Patriots now will use the acquired position to delay and possibly sabotage the 2040 target. Many blamed the EPP for siding with far right.
Had the voting gone through, the rapporteur would not draft a report (which can take weeks or even months). Such an accelerated procedure would speed up the whole process and limit possiblities to intentionally delay it.
The EPP’s refusal to back the motion prompted condemantion from centrists and left-leaning MEPs. “What EPP has done today is scandalous, irresponsible, and unforgivable,” said Michael Bloss (Greens/GER) who is the Greens’ climate spokesperson.
The coalition that last year secured Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen’s reelection (consisting of EPP, S&D, and Renew) – now looks even more fragile. In June after the Commission had briefly sided with EPP and the far right in refusing the anti-greenwashing law, S&D and Renew threatened to withdraw their support
