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28 Mar 2025, 12:00
Dave Keating
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EU

Dispatch from the European Union | March '25

Photo shows EU flags in front of Commission building. Photo European Union.
Photo European Union.

As the European Union鈥檚 focus shifts and towards increasing security and competitiveness, the question whether it will set a 90 percent emissions reduction target for 2040 has become central.

*** Our weekly Dispatches provide an overview of the most relevant recent and upcoming developments for the shift to climate neutrality in selected European countries, from policy and diplomacy to society and industry. For a bird's-eye view of the country's climate-friendly transition, read the respective 'Guide to'. ***

The target was expected to be announced alongside the Clean Industrial Deal strategy, unveiled at the end of February. But when the time came, it was missing 鈥 an omission that was only revealed by the European Commission in a briefing the night before the industry strategy's release. In mid-March, the Commission that the target proposal was being delayed to an unspecified future date and will not come out in the first quarter of 2025 as planned.

Senior聽policymakers from the EU and from member states have come out against the 90-percent target by the Commission last year and want the EU's executive branch to lower it or shelve it entirely. Italy鈥檚 energy minister, Gilberto Frattin, on the sidelines of the Energy Council in Brussels in March that a proposal with this target level should not get published. In a note to the Commission, Frattin said that the EU 鈥渟hould carefully consider the recommended choice of the 90 percent reduction target for 2040, compared to alternatives of 80 percent and 85 percent, both compatible with the net zero goal by 2050," arguing that 鈥渢he risk would be forcing countries into overly drastic measures with uncertain outcomes.鈥

The proposal would come in the form of an amendment to the EU鈥檚 climate law, which has already set a 55-percent reduction target for 2030 and the goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The proposal would then need to be approved by majority vote in the Council of national governments and in the European Parliament. of the EU鈥檚 27 countries have explicitly supported the 90-percent target. Commission president Ursula von der Leyen鈥檚 European People鈥檚 Party (EPP) 鈥 the largest group in the European Parliament 鈥 is split on the issue, with several senior EPP MEPs openly the idea.

Dan J酶rgensen, the new EU energy commissioner, insisted in a in Brussels that the Commission is not backing away from the Green Deal legislation adopted during von der Leyen鈥檚 first term. 鈥淭he EU鈥檚 fight against climate change does not stop just because a big country on the other side of the Atlantic withdraws from the Paris Agreement,鈥 he said. But fear the overall direction is that the EU is retreating from the climate fight.

Stories to watch in the weeks ahead

  • Omnibus resistance: For climate campaigners, the biggest signal that von der Leyen is set to significantly weaken EU climate regulation came with the so-called proposed alongside the Clean Industrial Deal at the end of February. Activists protested outside the Commission headquarters when it was unveiled. The package would weaken four pieces of already passed climate legislation: the Taxonomy regulation, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). The centre-left the second-largest in the European Parliament, has vowed to fight the deregulation push. 鈥淲e will not accept backtracking on social and environmental standards and established policy goals,鈥 said German MEP Gabriele Bischoff. 鈥淲e cannot聽empty聽them now in the name of simplification and put profit before people and the planet.鈥
  • CBAM changes: Alongside the Clean Industrial Deal strategy, the Commission floated an idea to exempt small and medium-sized businesses from the new carbon border levy taking effect this year. Although the levy was supposed to apply to all companies, the change would exempt 80 percent of businesses. However, the Commission said that 97 percent of emissions would still be covered. This proposal has proven less controversial than the omnibus package, with the centrist majority coalition in the European Parliament indicating they intend to . Larger CBAM changes may be coming as well, according to some of plans.
  • Energy independence roadmap: The European Commission is due to present a roadmap towards completely ending energy imports from Russia, but it is currently unclear when it will be released. Energy Commissioner Dan J酶rgensen was tasked with putting together the roadmap in his last year. It was due to be presented on but the date has been postponed.
  • Water resilience strategy: The new Commission鈥檚 also envisages a water resilience strategy to be put forward in the second quarter of 2025. It will "take a source-to-sea approach and consider the widely different challenges in our regions and in sectors to ensure that sources of water are properly managed, scarcity and pollution are addressed, and to increase the competitiveness of our water industry,鈥 according to the Commission.
  • Renewables target: The new Commission is also planning to come up with a proposal to set a yet undefined for 2040 in the coming months, accompanying a new percent. J酶rgensen suggested this target could also be 90 percent, by share of renewables in the EU鈥檚 energy mix. Last year, EU energy ministers held a contentious first discussion about this plan, with the divisive being a key discussion point.
  • Gas storage change: Euractiv reports that EU member states consider that was put in place after Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine to 85 percent. The states are drafting amendments to a Commission proposal to extend the scheme for two years, and are also asking that they no longer face a fixed deadline on 1 November each year. Countries including Germany, France and the Netherlands are concerned that the rules are pushing up prices because the market actors know European buyers are obliged to purchase large volumes of gas by a fixed deadline.

The latest in EU policymaking 鈥 last month in recap

  • A deal for industry or a deal for the Earth? The biggest news in EU energy policy in February was the much-anticipated release of the Clean Industrial Deal. The Commission is it as the 鈥渘ext step鈥 for the , but climate activists it could instead became a surrogate鈥 intended as a gift to European industry and a scaling back of climate efforts in light of the collapse of constructive climate policy in the U.S. under the Trump administration. almost universally welcomed the deal. Some climate NGOs reserved most of their ire for the omnibus package detailed above and gave a cautious welcome to the Clean Industrial Deal as an opportunity to give EU climate efforts a new burst of energy.
  • Reprieve for carmakers: In early March, the Commission published its . It outlines measures to strengthen the聽sector's competitiveness and to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles. It followed on a 鈥渟trategic dialogue鈥 that took place between EU lawmakers and carmakers in February. The plan extends the deadline by which carmakers must meet for vehicle fleets from one to three years.

Dave鈥檚 picks: highlights from upcoming events and top reads

  • Events: The International Energy Agency (IEA) is holding a on 24-25 April in London, which is expected to address how rising geopolitical tensions will impact the energy sector.
  • Essential reads: The Sciences Po centre for sustainable development and climate transition has a good and nuanced of the Clean Industrial Deal that sees opportunities for an expansion of climate action under its framework. The , however, paints a less rosy picture.
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