MEPs today pushed back against the EU Commission’s recent amnesia for the ‘European Green Deal’ in favour of a newfound love for ‘competitiveness’.

The Left in the European Parliament today brought together Trade Unions, activists and civil society to counter the new pattern in the European institutions of weakening environmental regulations in favour of business interests. The panel heard from disability activists, academics, industry representatives and communities that risk being left behind if the EU abandons its climate ambitions. 

Speakers criticised the EU’s approach to a Just Transition, such as ineffective box-ticking exercises in ‘stakeholder consultation’, rural job losses in areas such as agriculture and peat harvesting, and unfair EU subsidy distribution in food supply chains. 

Per Clausen (Enhedslisten, Denmark) said: “We need a Green Transition of our economies, energy sectors, industries and indeed all of our societies. But we also need to ensure that the Green Transition is a Just Transition. Switching from old, outdated technologies to newer, greener ones must not become an excuse to dump wages or leave people without jobs. Instead, we must ensure that new, green jobs are replacing those that are lost in the transition. We must remember, that greener, more energy-efficient technologies are the very thing that will help make Europe competitive.”

Lynn Boylan (Sinn Féin, Ireland) said “We are seeing a worrying shift in focus in the EU. The new priority is uncritically supporting industries, and more specifically large companies, many of which are highly polluting. We want to put the emphasis back on a Just Transition, which sees us transform our industries and agriculture for the benefit of workers and impacted communities, and ensure that changes in how we power our homes and design our transport systems are fully accessible to all in our society, particularly to marginalised groups.”

Anja Hazekamp (Partij voor de Dieren, Netherlands) said: “While the EU is silently retreating Green Deal measures, many citizens are left behind in an unhealthy environment. Extreme polluting factories such as Tata Steel and 3M continue to poison the living environment of humans and animals. Residents of airports such as Schiphol have to endure 50 flights per hour flying over their homes. Many citizens don’t have the financial means to move and escape such unhealthy living situations. The EU is failing to safeguard a healthy planet for current and future generations and people with the lowest incomes are paying the highest price for that.”